How it started

D-Allied was started by Neda and Megan who are graduate students in Biological and Medical Sciences whose personal journeys with disability sparked the creation of this group. Noticing that while there were some groups on campus for specific disabilities there were no groups tailored towards the disabled population as a whole, so they wanted to address this issue. Neda and Megan hope to bring the community together for greater understanding across the different types of disabilities, whether people have visible, invisible, life-long, short-term, or are experienced or new to their disability. This group’s purpose is to foster community, normalize disabilities, and provide resources and professional networking opportunities to people with disabilities.

Mission statement

To establish a comprehensive program fostering a sense of community and support among graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with all types of disabilities at the University of California, Irvine. Our initiative aims to provide a platform for these individuals to come together to form professional and personal connections across campus. We aspire to create a safe and supportive environment where students and postdoctoral scholars with disabilities can find solace and assistance tailored to their unique needs. Through this program, we seek to enhance awareness, foster inclusivity, and build a stronger community for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with disabilities.