When Ashley Morency talks about disability advocacy, she speaks from both professional experience and personal understanding.
As the Local Education Agency Liaison for the Quality Assurance Report (QAR) and Missouri Supporting Early Childhood Administrators (MO-SECA) project at UMKC-IHD’s Early Childhood Innovation Center, Ashley works daily to support educators and administrators serving young children across Missouri.
At home, she navigates disability as a wife, mother and self-advocate.
These experiences have shaped Ashely’s commitment to creating a more inclusive world — that’s why she chose to pursue the Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies (ILDS) graduate certificate.
About the ILDS Program
Creating more inclusive communities begins with informed, compassionate leadership.
The Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies (ILDS) program is offered through UMKC’s School of Graduate Studies in partnership with the Institute for Human Development. The program prepares current and emerging leaders with the knowledge and skills to create meaningful, lasting change in their workplaces and communities.
The certificate is designed for both current graduate students and working professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of disability and inclusive leadership. The flexible program can be completed as a standalone graduate certificate or alongside a master’s or doctoral degree, allowing learners from a wide range of disciplines to enhance their education while balancing professional and personal commitments.
The curriculum also emphasizes experiential learning through service-learning opportunities and community engagement. These experiences allow students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings while building relationships with disability organizations, community partners and self-advocates. By connecting theory with practice, participants gain valuable insight into how inclusive policies and practices can improve quality of life, strengthen organizations and promote full participation for people with disabilities. Students consistently describe the program as transformative, both professionally and personally.
Commitment to Creating Inclusive Communities
For Ashley, joining the ILDS program was more than a professional development opportunity — it was a chance to deepen her understanding of disability, strengthen her advocacy skills, and build on experiences that have profoundly shaped her life.
Her husband, Craig, and daughters, Maddi and Abbi, are autistic, and their journeys have given her firsthand insight into both the challenges and strengths that exist within the disability community. Ashley has also embraced her own identity as a person who is partially deaf, a journey she describes as one of continual learning, self-acceptance and growth.
Ashley believes meaningful change happens when people with disabilities are not only included, but empowered to shape the decisions that affect their lives. Her long-term goal is to help create spaces where autistic and neurodivergent individuals feel seen, heard, encouraged and empowered to lead self-directed, fulfilling lives.
“Through this transformative educational journey, I hope to help build a future where disability awareness, acceptance and inclusion are embedded into the very fabric of our society.”
– Ashley Morency
The commitment to advocacy and passion for inclusion recently earned Ashley the Vivian Shepherd and Merrill Joslin Scholarship for Disability Studies — a prestigious award recognizing individuals who demonstrate the potential to become leaders and changemakers in the disability field.
Partnership for Change
The ILDS program is also committed to making graduate education more accessible.
Through the Vivian Shepherd and Merrill Joslin Scholarship, two eligible students each year receive full tuition support for the ILDS certificate program. This scholarship reflects the program’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of disability leaders by reducing financial barriers and expanding opportunities for professionals who are passionate about creating more inclusive communities.
The scholarship is coordinated by The Rehabilitation Institute Foundation, a partner of UMKC-IHD focused on creating long-term support for comprehensive medical and vocational rehabilitation services for children and adults with disabilities in the greater Kansas City metropolitan community.
Broadening Impact
As the need for disability-informed leadership continues to grow, the UMKC Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies Graduate Certificate continues to innovate and expand.
Recent updates, like the Certified Disability Leadership Professional (CDLP) designation, advance the already-established ILDS certificate by introducing new learning opportunities that strengthen students’ professional skillsets, help them identify a clearer career pathway, and makes them even more competitive in the job market.
The CDLP program gives participants a self-paced virtual course that includes career exploration in the disabilities field while allowing them to track their progress throughout the learning experience. Earning a CDLP demonstrates specialized knowledge, readiness for career advancement, and a commitment to inclusive leadership.
Katharine Ragon, Program Coordinator for the ILDS Graduate Certificate, emphasizes the program’s broader impact.
“The ILDS Graduate Certificate empowers students to become thoughtful, informed leaders who understand disability from multiple perspectives.
– Katharine Ragon
Our goal is not only to expand knowledge but to equip graduates with the skills and confidence to create more inclusive workplaces, influence meaningful change and advocate alongside people with disabilities in every community they serve.”
As a current student of the ILDS program, Ashley shared that the program has expanded her understanding of disability law, the lived experiences of people with disabilities, and the complex systems that shape those experiences. She credits the certificate with strengthening her ability to advocate effectively for her family while also equipping her to support broader systems change within the disability community.
Similarly, alumni describe the program as a catalyst for career advancement, increased confidence in leadership roles, and new opportunities to influence policy, improve organizational practices, and champion inclusion within their communities.
Through an updated curriculum, new professional development opportunities, and interdisciplinary learning experiences, the Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies program prepares graduates to lead with knowledge, empathy and purpose while creating more inclusive organizations and communities where people with disabilities are recognized, valued, and included.
Applications for the ILDS program are accepted on a rolling basis — Don’t hesitate to apply today!
Learn more on our website or contact ILDS Coordinator Katharine Ragon.
