Dom Kelly
Dom Kelly is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and New Disabled South Rising, its 501(c)(4) arm. Dom is one of a set of triplets with cerebral palsy and a lifelong disability advocate. He received a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Dom is a part of the 2025 global cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, was chosen as a 2024 Rockwood National Leading From the Inside Out Yearlong Fellow, and was one of ten winners of The J.M. Kaplan Fund’s 2023 Innovation Prize. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Catie, their daughter Mahalia, and their dog Vivi.
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Building Power and Leadership Through Disability Justice
Anyone can apply a disability justice framework to leadership, whether it’s organizational leadership, project leadership, or another area. All it takes is a commitment to a better world. Dom shares how he uses the DJ framework to build power and to guide his leadership.
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Criplets: Navigating Life as a Disabled Triplet
Dom has the unique experience of being one of a set of triplets with the same random, non-genetic disability. Living life as a multiple, navigating loss, and fighting back against ableism have become the defining experiences of Dom’s life and influence everything, from running his own org to being a parent.
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Jewish. Crippled, and Questioning
Dom talks about his experience as a disabled Jew and what questions about his faith and belonging mean for his experience as a leader.
See Dom Kelly in action.
Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South
Dom Kelly is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and New Disabled South Rising, its 501(c)(4) arm. He has been organizing in the South since 2009, committed to building a progressive future for disabled people in his region. His previous roles as a senior advisor and founding staff of Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign, and as a lead fundraiser and advisor for her voting rights organization Fair Fight Action, both led him to make his vision for New Disabled South a reality.
Dom is one of a set of triplets born with Cerebral Palsy and has been a disability advocate since he was four years old. Starting when he was a young teenager, Dom and his brothers played around the world with their rock band A Fragile Tomorrow, touring and collaborating with artists like Indigo Girls, Joan Baez, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Bangles and more and releasing 6 records over 15+ years.
He received a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice where he also received the Excellence in Social Impact award. Additionally, he holds a bachelor’s degree in music production, a master’s degree in journalism, an executive certificate in social impact strategy, and a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary disability studies. Dom is a part of the 2025 global cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, was chosen as a 2024 Rockwood National Leading From the Inside Out Yearlong Fellow, and was one of ten winners of The J.M. Kaplan Fund’s 2023 Innovation Prize. He was a 2021 New Leaders Council fellow and currently serves as Chair for the board of The Kelsey. Dom lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Catie, their daughter Mahalia, and their dog Vivi.
Our speakers get attention.
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A New Disabled SouthDiagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at a year old, I have lived with a disability my entire life. But that’s not what compelled me to become an activist.
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Disabled Southerners are building new paths to grassroots powerNew Disabled South co-founder Dom Kelly discusses how disability justice can address the region’s most urgent political crises.
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How Disabled People Are Building Political PowerIn America, 42.5 million people live with a disability. Of these, an estimated 30 million are eligible voters.
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A Disability Advocacy Startup Strives To Model Its Own MissionDisability communities around the U.S. are getting to know a new advocacy organization, New Disabled South.
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Disability activists fight for equality in the SouthDom Kelly and Kehsi Iman Wilson, co-founders of New Disabled South, a coalition fighting for disability justice in 14 states.
