Who We Are

Jessica Lo (she/her) is a longtime resident of the Greater Seattle area who is committed to amplifying the perspectives of and advocating for issues of importance to people with disabilities and/or chronic conditions. Having grown up in a multi-generational household, Jessica first learned about the impact that disability can have on a person through the experience of her grandmother, who had an amputation. Jessica’s grandmother raised her in part, thus instilling a strong sense that people of all abilities can thrive when given the proper support and motivating Jessica to help create such an environment. 
 
Over the past six years, Jessica has strived to serve the disability community. While a student at the University of Washington, Jessica oversaw a team of fifteen people in creating a peer support network for people with brain injuries. She then worked at Full Life Care in South Seattle and at the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington alongside people with disabilities. Currently, Jessica is a medical student who hopes to dedicate her future practice to meeting the diverse needs of the disability community. Jessica leads efforts at her school to ensure that disability is robustly included in its curriculum. She additionally participates in research with the NIH and UW to better understand how to support people with disabilities in their pursuit of important activities, such as physical activity or employment. Jessica is very excited to apply these experiences to further serve the community of people with disabilities through the SDC. 

Emma Adkins (she/her) was born and raised in Maple Valley, WA and received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary liberal studies & data science with an emphasis in healthcare ethics and accessibility from Seattle University in 2022. After starting her full-time position as the graduate program coordinator for the College of Nursing at Seattle University, she began her master’s in business administration with hopes of working in the diabetes advocacy space upon graduation in 2025.  
Emma has lived with type 1 diabetes for over twelve years and identifies as an individual with a disability. Emma’s passions include access to medical technology and systems, young adult financial literacy and insurance comprehension, debunking myths and misunderstandings of diabetes care, and disability advocacy. Since early 2023, Emma has served as a fellow for the Diabetes Link, an organization whose mission is to provide resources and support for young adults living with diabetes. Emma is looking forward to serving as the Get Engaged member of the Seattle Disability Commission for the 2023-2024 year. 

Michele Kauffman’s career in forensic accounting with the U.S. Attorney's Office ended in 2010, after sustaining the first of two brain injuries.  Her lived experience provides first-hand knowledge of the gaps and needs in the disabled community. For over a decade, her volunteer work has focused on providing information and facilitating access to services that are often not provided to the disabled population. Her previous work includes serving as president of the Highland Terrace Neighborhood Association in Shoreline, while sitting on The Shoreline Neighborhood Council. She is the current treasurer and advocacy director of the Brain Network, and collaborates with numerous nonprofit organizations, such as People’s First of WA, BIAWA and PeerWA to provide support, education, and community to the disabled population in Washington and nationally. Her goal is to raise public awareness of the disabled and underserved communities that have fallen through the gaps and increase community participation in the Seattle Disability Commission.