Michael Thornton joined the DRA staff in December of 2020. A native of North Little Rock, Michael serves as the self-advocate coordinator for DRA. Michael travels around the state (virtually or in-person), training self-advocates to speak up for themselves and to help build self-advocacy chapters. In addition to his work at DRA, Michael is the self-advocacy faculty advisor for the Arkansas and Mississippi leadership education in neurodevelopmental and related disabilities program.
Michael serves on various boards and committees. He currently serves as President of the Disability Coalition Board and was nominated to the Community Advisory Committee of University of Arkansas – Partners for Inclusive Communities, where he has previously served as Chairperson.
Michael believes that ALL means ALL when it comes to disability inclusion and self-advocacy. We all have something to add to the conversation about self-advocacy, and we all can learn from each other.