About Us

Karina, a woman with a short pixie cut, interviews Alan Herbert, a man with albinism who wears a blue jacket, on camera.

Welcome to TGDNN

The Global Disability News Network (TGDNN) is a collaborative, community-driven platform dedicated to reporting the news that matter most to the global disability community. Working in partnership with organizations, advocates, and grassroots groups around the world, we cover the full spectrum of disability-related issues—from policy and legislation to community organizing, culture, innovation, and events.

Our network is run by and for disabled people and our allies, ensuring that our reporting is grounded in lived experience, authenticity, and a commitment to disability justice. We aim to amplify diverse voices, highlight urgent conversations, and connect communities across borders.

At The Global Disability News Network, we believe that accessible, accurate, and inclusive journalism is essential. Together with our partners, we strive to inform, empower, and inspire change worldwide.

About GADIM

TGDNN is powered by GADIM, the Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment. GADIM was founded in 2016 to mark the 10th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It is a global initiative that focuses on how news and entertainment media can advance the human rights of persons with disabilities by challenging stereotypes, combating ableism, and removing barriers.

GADIM was co-founded by Brazilian journalist and advocate Patricia Almeida, Australian lawyer and inclusion advocate Catia Malaquias (founder of Starting with Julius), and US scholar Professor Beth Haller, an expert on disability representation in media. From its launch at the UN Social Forum in Geneva, GADIM has emphasized that people with disabilities are key stakeholders—audiences, consumers, workers, and creators—and that inclusive, authentic media portrayals are essential for realizing their rights.

GADIM’s work aligns with Article 8 of the CRPD on awareness-raising and is supported by former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Catalina Devandas Aguilar and the International Disability Alliance (IDA).

The Team

Karina, a white woman with a brown pixie cut wearing a black dress.

Karina Sturm

News Director TGDNN

(Image by Andi Weiland)

Read her stories here:

Author Karina Sturm

Amy, a Brown woman with long black hair is smiling brightly. She is wearing a red dress and large blue earrings.
Un-Label 2023; Lucie Ella Photography

Amy Iman Zayed

Deputy News Director TGDNN

(Image by Un-Label 2023; Lucie Ella Photography)

You can read her stories here:

Author Amy Zayed

A white woman with curly brown hair wearing a bright green blazer.

Sarah Blahovec

Social Media Manager & Communications

Beth Haller, a white woman with short blonde hair, wearing a red scarf.

Beth Haller

Co-Director, GADIM

Read her stories here:

Author Beth Haller

A white woman with curly brown hair pointing at her shirt with text: No More Craptions.

Rikki Poynter

Deaf News Coverage, TGDNN

You can read her stories here:

Author Rikki Poynter

A white woman with long curly red hair and blue eyes.

Maja Benke

Website Accessibility & Design

TGDNN’s Authors

D

Day, a BIPOC woman, is sitting on the ground next to a yellow lab who is licking her chin. Day wears sunglasses on top of her head and is smiling.

Day Al-Mohamed

US Writer & Filmmaker

Find her stories here:

Author Day Al-Mohamed

J

A whtie woman with black round glasses and long red hair wearing all black sits in a wheelchair in front of an art exhibit in the park.

Jasmin Polsini

Swiss Artist

Find her stories here:

Schlafendehundewecken

Jason, a white man with brown hair is standing in a residential area with houses in the background. He wears headphones around his neck.

Jason Strother

Journalist

Find his stories here:

Author Jason Strother

Jemimah Kutata, a Kenyan woman, stands, smiling. She is wearing traditional Maasai clothes and stands in front of a thatch-roof hut.
Mombasa, KEN, 28.06.2013

Jemimah Kutata

Maasai Disability Rights Advocate

Find her stories here:

Author Jemimah Kutata

L

The image shows a portrait-format selfie. In the foreground, there is a person with short, vivid orange-red hair. They are wearing round glasses, a dark blue coat with a high collar, and underneath it a pinkish-purple turtleneck sweater. They are looking directly into the camera, with a calm and slightly thoughtful expression. In the background, there is a tall, light-colored clock tower. The large black clock face with Roman numerals and golden hands is clearly visible. The tower appears slightly tilted in the image, giving the photo a dynamic perspective.

Lela Finkbeiner

Author, Lecturer

Find her stories here:

Author Lela Finkbeiner

M

A white man with curly brown hair sits at his desk drawing.

Mynt

Swiss Artist

Find his stories here:

Schlafendehundewecken

P

Priti, an Indian woman with chin-long brown hair is standing in an apartment. She is wearing a black blazer.

Priti Salian

Indian Journalist

Find her stories here:

Author Priti Salian

R

Raul Krauthausen, a little person sitting in a motorized wheelchair. He is wearing a gray cap, purple shirt, and tan pants.

Raúl Krauthausen

German Disability Rights Activist

Find his stories here:

Author Raúl Krauthausen