James M. is a powerful voice for the rights of people with IDD. James has held leadership positions including President of People First of Oklahoma, Chair of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered, and President of Texas Advocates. He is a recipient of The Arc’s Catalyst award. He also served on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and currently serves on the Centene National Disability Advisory Council (CNDAC). James is the Vice Chair of the Public Policy committee for CNDAC.

James is a survivor of sexual assault who has spoken out to shed light on this important issue. He was featured in NPR’s series Abused and Betrayed and anchors Seen and Heard: IDD Community, a project addressing the sexual assault epidemic occurring among people with IDD.

James is the Advocacy and Outreach Lead for Strategic Education Solutions. In this position, he is responsible for presenting the team’s work at meetings and conferences, recruiting and helping train new team members, and building partnerships with other organizations. He has presented at many national conferences and conventions, including The Arc of the US, the National Adult Protective Services Association, SXSW Edu, and more.