This fall, Maryland Inclusive Housing (MIH) was thrilled to welcome Iris Ham as a communications intern. Iris is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in Public Health Science.
A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Iris was connected to MIH through EMBRACE-MD (Enhancing Marylanders’ Sense of Belonging, Knowledge of Rights, and Involvement in Advocacy for Communities of Educators, UMD Students, and Individuals with Disabilities), a program facilitated by Dr. Veronica Kang, Assistant Professor in Maryland’s Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education.
“EMBRACE-MD is a research project focused on disability advocacy and policy,” said Iris. “I’m passionate about finding ways to break down accessibility barriers for all communities, especially in healthcare.”
Since joining MIH, Iris has already created a promotional video for MIH’s Assistive Technology Navigator and is assisting Andy Krauss with communications efforts. She will also support MIH’s legislative initiatives for the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session.
“I’ve already gained so much insight into advocacy and case management,” Iris shared. “I’m excited to continue learning from everyone at MIH. The organization is doing great work to support Marylanders with IDD, and I’m grateful to be part of this meaningful effort.”