Founding Executive DirectorDisability Rights Fund
Diana Samarasan is Founding Executive Director of the Disability Rights Fund and the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund– which support people with disabilities in the Global South to advocate for equal rights and opportunities. Diana’s work is unique, turning the "charity" model on its head by involving beneficiary communities in decision-making within the Fund and in society. Prior to DRF, Diana headed the Mental Disability Advocacy Center in Budapest, which takes cases to court against governments for abuse of the rights of people with mental disabilities. Diana is on the Steering Committees of International Human Rights Funder’s Group and Opportunity Collaboration, and on the Board of the US International Council on Disability. She has an MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School.