Task force DEI

Sleep Consortium understands and embraces the critical need for addressing sleep deficiencies in under-represented communities and individuals experiencing symptoms of disordered sleep.

Addressing persistent under-recognized social determinants of sleep health impacted by access to health care, educational background, socio-economic, ethnic, racial, gender, and social status are underlying mechanisms that significantly impact disadvantaged populations of our community. Tackling such disparities is the lens through which we address the discrimination of under-served and vulnerable individuals and families.

Our Disparity Task Force aims to identify key areas of exclusion that exist in vulnerable sleep health/disorder communities and thus is anchored on principles of inclusion and equity (access, rights, opportunity, and the elimination of discrimination). Sleep Consortium has established a group of key pre-selected stakeholders who live with a diagnosed sleep disorder–such as Narcolepsy, Idiopathic Hypersomnia, Kleine Levin Syndrome, or Parasomnia Disorders and whose personal experience and passion for progress helps drive the research and diagnostic agenda forward.

The purpose of the DEI forum is to heighten focus on identifying obstacles in collecting data via a one-stop patient-owned platform, consenting to data-sharing practices, and improving access to clinical trials across all communities.

We strongly believe that it is through the sharing of the patient experience and voice that educational barriers are broken down, and ideas for global collaboration are surfaced regardless of geography, environmental factors, cultural influences, and social or ethnic contexts.

DEI Taskforce Members

Lauryn Craine

Lauryn Craine

Lauryn Craine is a recent graduate from Missouri Valley college. She graduated with her Bachelors in English. She writes for fun and as a career. Her writing focuses on pop culture, disability and academic content.

Lauryn Craine is a recent graduate from Missouri Valley college. She graduated with her Bachelors in English. She writes for fun and as a career. Her writing focuses on pop culture, disability and academic content.

Lauryn's work in disability advocacy comes from being diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnolence (IH). She decided she wanted to raise awareness for her condition and IH's sister condition Narcolepsy through writing. Outside of advocacy Lauryn loves to play video games, read a variety of books and collect plushies to stash in her room.

Read More
Andre Royal

Andre Royal

Andre Royal “Sr.” is an active writer, photojournalist, blogger & community advocate with an emphasis on family focused event planning & visual arts applications.

Currently located in the United States and presently residing in Eugene, Oregon.

Andre Royal "Sr." is an active writer, photojournalist, blogger & community advocate with an emphasis on family focused event planning & visual arts applications.

Currently located in the United States and presently residing in Eugene, Oregon.

Andre Royal is the Founder of Suddenlysleepy.org, the Suddenly Sleepy Sleepwalk 5K & Author of Multi Platinum Award Winning Children's Book Series at:

Chefandreroyal.com (Chef Andre Royal LLC).

Andre Royal, Sr. can be found moonlighting as a Private Chef.

Passionate about food sovereignty, access & nutritional equity. "Chef Andre Royal '' has a Experiential Learning background and now develops curriculum highlighting applied S.T.E.M. & S.T.E.A.M. principles in the areas of financial literacy, cultural exploration and culinary adventure seeking. 

Additionally Andre Royal Sr. is the Lead Project manager for R & D of an emerging gaming company that focuses on Health, Wellness and Sleep Hygiene.

Andre Royal Sr. is an experienced Vocational Navigator & Currently the Sales & Marketing Consultant for a Web Development Firm based in Eugene Oregon presently overseeing: Content creation, Tutorial and Cohort Development combining Fine & Culinary Arts Program experience into "Responsible Tech Focused Design Applications for future Workforce Partnership Solutions.

Chef Andre Royal is an Achalasia Survivor plus multiple "Rare Disease & Health and Wellness Advocate (for Children & Adults of varying abilities and cognition levels).

Andre Royal Sr. is an active Narcolepsy & Sleep Disorders Consultant with D.E.I. applied lived experience who is often available for Public/ Private Marketing endeavors and Public Relations Development i.e. Community Engagement.

Read More
Felicia Elisabeth

Felicia Elisabeth

Felicia Elisabeth is a student and advocate from Indonesia. Currently, she is living in Thailand to pursue a master’s in Food Science for Nutrition at Mahidol University. She was diagnosed with Narcolepsy Type 1 in 2021 after almost ten years developed the symptoms.

Felicia Elisabeth is a student and advocate from Indonesia. Currently, she is living in Thailand to pursue a master's in Food Science for Nutrition at Mahidol University. She was diagnosed with Narcolepsy Type 1 in 2021 after almost ten years developed the symptoms. Her journey to diagnosis started in 2017 when she was misdiagnosed with insomnia and epilepsy. In 2022, she joined the Project Sleep's Rising Voices for Narcolepsy program to raise awareness about sleep disorders. Now, her mission is to reduce stigmas about narcolepsy in Indonesia. 

Read More
Tatiana Maria Corbitt

Tatiana Maria Corbitt

Tatiana Maria Corbitt is a first-generation university graduate. She earned her M.S. in Applied Biological Sciences from Arizona State University, where she also published her undergraduate Barrett, the Honors College thesis investigating the FAA’s research and regulation of insulin-treated diabetic pilots.

Tatiana Maria Corbitt is a first-generation university graduate. She earned her M.S. in Applied Biological Sciences from Arizona State University, where she also published her undergraduate Barrett, the Honors College thesis investigating the FAA’s research and regulation of insulin-treated diabetic pilots. She is happy to report that a year following the publication of her thesis, the FAA lifted their unwarranted regulations of insulin-treated diabetic pilots. She continues to be passionate about the use of science in advocating for equal rights. 

Tatiana began experiencing severe symptoms of Type 1 Narcolepsy in her Junior year of college. She managed to graduate but was unable to continue to pursue her medical or science careers due to the severity of her symptoms. This was despite trying a plethora of treatment and workplace accommodation options. She strives to be transparent in her struggles to reduce the amount of shame that people with Narcolepsy might feel due to their limitations.

These days, Tatiana is an artist and writer. She regularly writes articles for narcolepsy.sleep-disorders.net, and is currently working on her debut novel centering a person with narcolepsy. She often finds solace in the trees of the beautiful Pacific Northwest which she currently calls “home”.

Read More
Taylor Dillon

Taylor Dillon

Taylor Dillon is a Filipina-American science writer who loves dancing and off-roading. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 18, after her freshman year at the University of Miami. As a student she conducted research on marine microbiology and global biogeochemical cycling.

Taylor Dillon is a Filipina-American science writer who loves dancing and off-roading. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 18, after her freshman year at the University of Miami. As a student she conducted research on marine microbiology and global biogeochemical cycling. But after learning about hypersomnolence her scientific interests have shifted to include neurophysiology and the evolutionary history of sleep.

Taylor hopes to increase access to helpful information in order to decrease stigma and confusion around narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. Since early 2021, she has worked with Project Sleep to create the Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Toolkits–a free library of in-depth resources.  And she is excited and honored to be part of Sleep Consortium’s inaugural DEI Panel.

Read More
harmony
jazz