CINCINNATI, OH, September 23, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jason P. Harris has been recognized for achievement in disability advocacy and public policy.

Mr. Harris has established himself as a leading expert in disability, disability studies and disability advocacy, building a dynamic career defined by a commitment to inclusion and public policy. Since 2026, he has served as a public policy specialist fellow at the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. In this capacity, Mr. Harris's main role is at the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND), which provides backup assistance for the program's public policy specialist and the advocacy faculty to support the trainees. He also co-leads certain sessions for LEND, helps with research, and also participates in community inclusion initiatives such as Project Echo. He consults on projects, including his recent work for the American Sign Museum; contributing to public policy initiatives with the Supported Decision-Making Network of Ohio; and serving on multiple boards and committees. Additionally, he collaborates closely with the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities, an adult healthcare clinic serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Where he helps to train staff on disability culture and history. Since 2021, Mr. Harris has been an advisory board member for the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities at UC Health.

Alongside his fellowship, Mr. Harris began working as a peer recovery specialist at the Recovery Center of Hamilton County in 2026. His involvement with the center began with taking classes in 2024, then serving as a volunteer at the front desk before transitioning to a paid role.

In 2026, Mr. Harris also joined the Institute for Exceptional Care as a healthcare fellow where he has been a consultant since 2023 and became an Ascend fellow with Making Space. These concurrent positions reflect his dedication to advancing care and support for people with disabilities across multiple platforms.

Since 2023, Mr. Harris has served as an adjunct lecturer in the School of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, where he co-teaches classes connected to the Developmentally Disabled minority. He also collaborates on research projects with Dr. Lori Vincent, a school psychologist at the university. His teaching is informed by his professional background in disability studies and his ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive educational environments.

Mr. Harris founded Jason's Connection in 2013 and continues to serve as chief idea officer. Through this platform, he has worked to connect individuals with disabilities to resources and foster community engagement. His leadership at Jason's Connection was recognized early on when he received a Venue City Award during his initial involvement as well as being a Zero Project awardee in 2020.

From 2020 to 2023, Mr. Harris served as director of strategic operations at LADD Inc., Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled in Cincinnati. In this role, he contributed to organizational strategy and supported efforts to improve living arrangements for people with developmental disabilities.

Between 2021 and 2022, Mr. Harris was selected as a LEND trainee at the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. His performance earned him the Roz Parnish Leadership and Service Award in 2022, presented to one of the program's top trainees and then went on to participate in the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) Leadership Academy in 2023.

His earlier experience includes serving as project coordinator and research associate at the Burton Blatt Institute from 2018 to 2020, where he contributed to research initiatives focused on disability rights and accessibility. In 2017, Mr. Harris was part of the American Association of People with Disabilities summer internship program in Washington, DC where he completed an internship with the National Disability Rights Network.

Since 2021, Mr. Harris has been an advisory board member for the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities at UC Health. He is also active on several other boards and committees, including serving on the leadership team of the Supported Decision-Making Network of Ohio since 2021, acting as an advisor member for the Cincinnati Accessibility Board of Advisors since 2020, and participating as a member of the Human Rights Commission for Hamilton County Development Disabilities Services since 2020.

His academic background includes earning a Master of Science in cultural foundations education (disability studies) from the School of Education at Syracuse University in 2018 and a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts with a minor in philosophy from Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati in 2013. He further enhanced his expertise by obtaining a Certificate of Advanced Study in Disability Studies from Syracuse University in 2018 and completing disability rights and accessibility training through the United States Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights in 2026.

Curiosity and tenacity have been central themes throughout Mr. Harris's academic journey and professional development. He credits much of his growth to supportive colleagues who have provided opportunities for collaboration and mentorship along the way.

Born in Cincinnati, Mr. Harris enjoys reading graphic novels and watching documentaries on diverse topics, following sports, playing board games and occasionally video games, taking piano lessons and exploring new areas within his hometown. He describes himself as someone who enjoys being a tourist in his own city.

Looking ahead, Mr. Harris hopes to continue growing professionally while expanding his impact beyond local circles to statewide and national arenas. He plans to apply for membership in emerging leadership communities, such as those offered by AUCD and aims to make disability an open topic in everyday conversation rather than one shrouded in stigma or misunderstanding. Recognizing his strengths as a speaker rather than a writer, he is exploring opportunities in public speaking and podcasting to further these goals, while remaining mindful that approaches must be thoughtfully adapted when engaging across different cultures internationally.

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