katelynn schultz

Communications Coordinator

Disability Rights Iowa (DRI)

August 2021 – Present

The Communications Coordinator will have a primary focus on developing and implementing communications, and content focused on increasing Iowans’ awareness of DRI as well as providing a richer understanding of disability and disability inclusion.  The Coordinator will be charged with promoting positive images of DRI and disability in the media and with the public to further DRI’s goals.  Branding and promoting DRI’s digital image, including website maintenance and social media, will be important parts of executing these efforts. The Communications Coordinator will also be the agency lead in ensuring the accessibility content and materials. 

Key Accomplishments:

  • Developed and maintained DRI’s website content, including state-wide disability resources and
    video series averaging 40,000 unique website visitors a year, an increase of 10,000 visitors.
  • Led strategic community outreach initiatives, networking with stakeholders, advocacy
    organizations, and media, promoting positive images of DRI and disability.
  • Coordinated and developed DRI’s brand and communication strategy, serving as the first full time
    communications professional, creating the role from the ground up.
  • Conducted community outreach on the voting rights of individuals with disabilities,
    collaborating with outside agencies to expand voter rights and registration drives.
  • Conceived and coordinated various events, trainings, meetings, and outreach activities,
    partnering with corporations and non-profits to convert these efforts into funding streams,
    effectively doubling annual training numbers.

Job Responsibilities:

  1. Manage, develop, and update content to DRI’s website to include state-wide disability rights resources, FAQ’s, video series, among other web enhancements.
  2. Social Media – Provide valuable resources and information to the disability rights community through managing, updating, developing, and expanding DRI’s digital footprint, including current social media platforms, Facebook, and YouTube, provide support for management of new DRI social media platforms, i.e., LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
  3. Coordinate and develop DRI’s brand and communication strategy to support DRI’s mission and vision.
  4. Act as primary contact and support for all media requests
  5. Support DRIs Outreach Coordinator and strategic community outreach plan to further DRI’s mission and vision.
  6. Networking with disability community, media, public services groups, etc.
  7. Provides IT/AV Technical Assistance in support of staff at outreach, presentations, and trainings as needed.
  8. Lead Agency Efforts to improve accessibility of all documents and content.
  9. Provide support for resource development activities, including, but not limited to, production and mailing/emailing of appeals, materials for resource development activities such as press releases, and marketing of the activity.
  10. Prepare, develop and update DRI informational brochures, fact sheets, press releases, event marketing materials, mass emails among other agency materials.
  11. Represent DRI on councils, commissions, work groups and stakeholder groups, as assigned by supervisor.
  12. Work in conjunction with other DRI staff on planning and developing agency priorities, goals, and objectives.