Oluwaferanmi Okanlami, known as Dr. O on campus, is dedicated to fostering inclusivity at the University of Michigan. As director of student accessibility and accommodation services, he leads the Services for Students with Disabilities and established the Adaptive Sports & Fitness Program. His efforts earned him the James T. Neubacher Award, reflecting his commitment to building sustainable, inclusive programs for disabled athletes aspiring to compete at the Paralympic Games. The program also engages non-disabled individuals to promote awareness and inclusion.
Okanlami’s work goes beyond the university; he is also an assistant professor in multiple disciplines and collaborates with UCLA to develop an adaptive sports medicine program for the upcoming Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. His personal journey, from a spinal cord injury to becoming a wheelchair user, drives his mission to ensure equitable access for individuals with disabilities. He emphasizes the need for systemic change, stating, “I recognized how unintentionally complicit I had been to perpetuating the system of ableism.”
The Neubacher Award honors Jim Neubacher, a U-M alumnus and advocate for disability rights, and is awarded yearly to individuals showing leadership in supporting the disability community. Okanlami’s roles extend to being a member of U-M’s Institute on Health Policy and Innovation, where he contributes to health policy and inclusive history initiatives.
Nationally, he serves on several boards, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society, and has engaged with the White House Office of Public Engagement. Okanlami coined “Disabusing Disability” to challenge perceptions, asserting that disability does not imply inability.
Honorable mentions for the Neubacher Award include Tess Carichner, a Ph.D. student; Cari Carson, attorney at Disability Rights North Carolina; Christina Dadswell, lecturer in social work; Shanna Katz Kattari, associate professor of social work and gender studies; Jonathon McGlone, senior associate librarian; Haylie L. Miller, kinesiology assistant professor; and Melissa Jugo Tinney, clinical assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Okanlami’s educational journey includes a master’s from the University of Notre Dame and a family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital. His efforts in promoting disability rights and mentorship are widely recognized, as stated by Pam McGuinty, co-chair of the Council for Disability Concerns.
The Neubacher Award, founded in 1990, is supported by the Council for Disability Concerns, the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office, University Human Resources, Michigan Medicine, and the Office of the President.
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