Two Oklahomans Selected for National Disability Advocacy Event in Washington, D.C.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Two Oklahomans have been selected to bring their stories, strength, and leadership to the national stage. Summer Parrish of Enid and Meske Owens of Oklahoma City have been chosen to represent Oklahoma at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 3rd Annual Disability Power on the Hill, taking place May 11–15, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Parrish and Owens are both recent graduates of the Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma’s Partners in Policymaking program, a nationally recognized leadership and advocacy training initiative. Their participation in Partners equipped them with the skills, confidence, and policy knowledge needed to advocate effectively at the state and federal level, preparation that will serve them well as they meet with advocates from across the United States to discuss disability issues as well as meet with members of Congress this May.

“Summer and Meske possess the purpose, knowledge, and passion needed effectively advocate for positive changes to help people with disabilities live better lives,” said Dr. Bradley Mays, Oklahoma Partners in Policymaking Director.

“As Oklahomans, we know that real change happens when people with disabilities lead the way,” said Jenifer Randle, Executive Director of the Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma. “Summer and Meske embody the courage, clarity, and commitment that define our state’s advocates. Their voices matter, and their leadership will help ensure that federal policy reflects the lived experiences of people with disabilities and their families in Oklahoma and across the country.”

AAPD’s Disability Power on the Hill equips advocates to engage directly with policymakers on issues that shape daily life for millions of disabled people. Participants receive training on effective federal advocacy, connect with peers from across the country, and meet with their Representatives, Senators, and congressional staff.

During AAPD’s 2025 event, 95 advocates from 33 states met with 126 congressional offices, demonstrating broad, bipartisan engagement.

This year, advocates will focus on priorities including:

• Eliminating asset limits and marriage penalties in Supplemental Security Income
• Protecting Medicaid
• Ensuring strong funding for federal programs serving disabled Americans, including the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services
• Fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Oklahoma’s Delegates

Summer Parrish (Enid) is a disability advocate, speaker, and digital creator who works to advance policies that support children with disabilities and their families. As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, Summer brings both personal and advocacy experience to her work. Parrish reaches more than 50,000 people through her social media platforms and is the co-host of Where the Ramp Ends, where they discuss disability policy, culture, and community inclusion.

Summer says, “As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, I know firsthand how policy decisions shape the opportunities our children have. I’m honored to join advocates from across the country to speak up for families like mine.”

Meske Owens (Oklahoma City) is a Certified Protective Factors Trainer, speaker and family‑systems advocate working at the intersection of trauma, disability, and policy. Her work connects families, policymakers, and service systems to build more responsive supports for children with disabilities. As Legislative Champion for VOICES OKC, she leads efforts to strengthen trauma‑informed domestic violence policy and expand access to early developmental screenings.  Owens also partners with the Oklahoma Family Network helping families navigate mental health and disability systems and contributes to county‑level initiatives improving infant and maternal health outcomes.

“Policy isn’t abstract, it’s personal,” Owens says. “Every decision made in a committee room ripples into a family’s daily life. My goal is to make sure those ripples move us toward connection, not struggle, so Oklahoma’s children have the developmental and educational foundations they deserve.”

About AAPD

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a national cross‑disability civil rights organization committed to building political and economic power for the more than 60 million disabled people in the United States. AAPD works to advance equal opportunity, economic self‑sufficiency, and full participation in all aspects of life.

About the Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma (DDCO)

The Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma (DDCO) works to create a state where all people with developmental disabilities can live, learn, work, and fully participate in their communities. Through advocacy, leadership development, policy analysis, and community‑driven initiatives, DDCO partners with Oklahomans with disabilities and their families to advance inclusion, accessibility, and self‑determination. DDCO invests in systems change efforts that strengthen services, expand opportunities, and ensure that the voices of people with disabilities shape the policies that impact their lives.