Dee Sapp
Dee's life journey is a testament to determination, compassion, and a relentless drive to create a more inclusive world.
In October 2020, Dee made her mark as a published author, contributing her chapter, "Inclusion Matters," to the co-authored compilation "The Nonprofit Legacy." This work reflects her passion for inclusion and her unwavering dedication to the nonprofit sector.
Dee Sapp dismantles exclusionary systems and rebuilds them so people can use them across disability, caregiving, and mental health.
With nearly two decades leading nonprofits, advising Fortune 500 companies, and building public-private partnerships, Dee operates at the intersection of access, wellbeing, and organizational performance. Her work identifies where language, processes, and decision-making structures quietly exclude people (particularly those navigating disability and mental health) and redesigns those systems so clarity, trust, and support are default, not exceptions.
Dee brings the same grounded authority to a boardroom that she does to a family kitchen table: practical, direct, and focused on what works. She has advised executive teams, national brands like Progressive Insurance and Easter Seals, and public institutions on embedding disability, caregiver, and mental health insight into strategy, operations, and communications thus moving organizations from statements to systems, from intentions to outcomes.
As a founder and CEO, Dee builds durable infrastructure: governance models, funding strategies, and operational frameworks that make access and mental wellness sustainable rather than dependent on heroic individual effort. Her leadership has earned trust across political and institutional lines through consistent delivery, strategic discretion, and a reputation for execution over optics.
Dee's expertise has been recognized through board appointments to the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council (Chair), State Early Childhood Advisory Council, Charles County Commission on Individuals with Disabilities, and Special Education State Advisory Committee. She serves as Parliamentarian for the Charles County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board and sits on the board of Down Syndrome Sports of America. In 2025, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for her humanitarian leadership and commitment to equity.
Her academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State, and executive certifications in leadership development and policy advocacy through Georgetown's Professional Manager's Program and Arc Maryland's Partners in Policymaking.
At her core, Dee is an architect of access and wellbeing. She believes the strongest organizations are designed for reality—and that when systems work for people at the margins, they work better for everyone.
Driven by her mission to promote inclusion and remove barriers, Dee founded the Accessibility Bridge Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Through this initiative, she empowers people with disabilities by connecting them with vital resources and communities. Her motivation for this endeavor comes from personal challenges she and her son faced due to inequitable systems. Dee strongly believes that all children should have the opportunity to learn, play, and thrive in inclusive environments.
Dee's advocacy is deeply personal as well. Her son, a US Paralympian and swimmer, has autism and an intellectual disability. Dee is committed to advocating for him and others with disabilities, as well as their families.
Dee Sapp's story is one of overcoming challenges, advocating for inclusivity, and creating opportunities for all. She serves as a beacon of hope and a driving force in the journey toward a more inclusive and equitable world.
Learn more about Dee on DeeSapp.com.