“Dr. Toni Saia bridges lived experience and professional expertise, transforming scholarship, advocacy, and leadership into tangible change for disabled people and the communities that support them.”

Biography

Dr. Toni Saia is an Associate Professor at San Diego State University, scholar, and disability rights advocate. A disabled academic, she bridges research, advocacy, and lived experience to advance equity and inclusion for people with disabilities. Her work includes over $1 million in external funding, 23 peer-reviewed publications, and leadership in community and national initiatives such as LEND and the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association’s Disability-Related Counseling Competencies. Dr. Saia’s scholarship, teaching, and advocacy focus on dismantling ableism and empowering disabled individuals as leaders in their communities.