ABOUT SOPHIE
From lived experiences to advocacy
Sophie Iverson is a lifelong disability advocate and storyteller. She holds a Master’s degree in the Study of Law from Hamline University with a concentration in special education, as well as an undergraduate degree in Political Science from St. Catherine University.
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In 2023, she founded Access 2 Advocacy with the goal of applying her lived experiences and passion for storytelling to provide others with advocacy tools, confidence-building strategies, and support in sharing their own stories for self-advocacy.
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Sophie supports parents and students with disabilities by “translating” the special education system, providing guidance, and elevating the rights they have as informed and active participants in their own IEP/504 meetings. She brings extensive knowledge and training in person-centered planning, self-evaluation and transition planning, Americans with Disabilities Act topics, special education, and deliberative dialogue work, and holds an ADA Coordinator certification.
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Most importantly, as a person with a complex medical history, Sophie brings her personal experience as a member of the disability community into her advocacy and consulting work.
Achievements
March 2025
Podcast Appearance
Appeared as a guest on Minnesota APSE's "If You Can See It, You Can Believe It" podcast to speak about my employment journey, current jobs, and the creation of my business. Listen and view Here.
April 2024
Presentation
Presented at the Minnesota Social Services Association online conference. This presentation, titled "Telling My Story in the Advocacy Space – A Lesson in Resilience and Being Vulnerable," allowed me to share my story with case managers and other social service workers in Minnesota.
March 2024-Present
Task Force Member
Joined the Gillette Transition Task Force as a Lived Experience Partner, helping to advise on the work being done at Gillette Children's Hospital in Minnesota regarding the Pediatric to Adult Transition Research Project. Read more about Lived Experience Partners here.
April 2023
Keynote Speaker
As a member of U.S. of Care's Voices of Real Life Council, I was invited to be a keynote speaker for their 5-Year Anniversary Conference and to share how my story, and the stories of others, can be valuable to policymakers in order to incite positive change in the healthcare space.
January 2023-Present
Council Member
Member of the U.S. of Care's Voices of Real Life Council, providing valuable insight in focus groups and conversations related to making healthcare more equitable and affordable for all. Participated in discussions on topics such as how AI should be involved in the future of healthcare, how access to healthcare is challenging for particular minority groups, and many others. Read more about the U.S. of Care Voices of Real Life Council here.
September 2023
Advisor to Fellowship Group
Advisor for the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration LEND Fellowship group, providing guidance throughout the school year on advocating to federal and state policymakers about disability policies that matter to them.