ADAAC Membership Bios

Manuel J Baca Sr.

I’m Manuel J Baca Sr. I currently serve as the Chair of the Albuquerque ADA Advisory Council. I, as well as all the other members of the council, have a disability. Mine is an amputation above the knee of my right leg. I want to serve all the disabled people of Albuquerque to ensure that they have full access to all city services and facilities. I am retired but I worked in healthcare my entire career. From 8 years as a Hospital Corpsman in the US Navy and then in healthcare administration for the rest of my career until retirement.  I have worked with disabled people of every type and have always been an advocate for access.  I know that many people treat us like we’re invisible, but we are not and I will always make sure that I work hard to advocate for my fellow disabled people to ensure we are all treated as equals because we’re not invisible.  Please feel free to reach out to me with questions, comments, concerns or just to say hi my email address is [email protected] please put ADAAC in the subject line.

Elijah Valdez

"Elijah Valdez is a Deaf nonprofit leader, advocate, and business owner based in Albuquerque. He is the founder of Equity & Impact Consulting, where he provides training and consulting to nonprofits, public agencies, and first responders on Deaf culture, accessibility, and equitable community engagement. Elijah has led nonprofit programs, built strong community partnerships, and works to strengthen connections between the Deaf community and public systems. With a background in psychology and social justice, his work focuses on expanding access, improving inclusion, and supporting stronger, more connected communities across Albuquerque."

Contact Info: 505-715-6044

Corina Gutierrez

Corina Gutiérrez is a proud New Mexico native from Hatch, the "Chile Capital of the World," and comes from a close-knit, Spanish-speaking family. She is Deaf, and her lived experience navigating systems without full communication access has deeply shaped her lifelong commitment to advocacy, equity, and inclusion.  Corina attended the New Mexico School for the Deaf for most of her education before earning her bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University.

As Director of Community Advocacy with the New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Corina works to ensure effective communication access for Deaf, Deaf/Blind, and Hard of Hearing consumers. She advocates at both individual and systemic levels across employment, government, legal, healthcare, and business settings, and supports school-to-college and school-to-work transitions.

Corina serves on the City of Albuquerque’s ADA Advisory Council to advance accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities, particularly the Deaf, Deaf/Blind, and Hard of Hearing community.  As a Deaf individual, she brings lived experience to help ensure accessibility is meaningful, proactive, fully integrated into city policies and services.

She has served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the New Mexico Association for the Deaf Board of Directors, Gallaudet University Regional Center–Southwest Advisory Board, National Council of Hispano Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Raíces del Rio Grande, the New Mexico School for the Deaf Alumni Association, Council de Manos, and the Parent & Family Advisory Committee for UNM Hospital and Presbyterian. She currently serves as a Board of Regent member for the New Mexico School for the Deaf.

Kate O'Neal

While working as an attorney for people living with disabilities, Katherine was involved in a catastrophic collision with a tractor trailer. As a result of the collision, her femur was fractured into three pieces, her ankle was shattered, and she had a head injury.  Ms. O’Neal was in and out of a wheelchair through many revision surgeries.  She still suffers with chronic pain and deals with multiple disabilities but through passion and determination, has successfully helped thousands of people living with disabilities obtain benefits they deserve.  Ms. O’Neal now owns O’Neal Appellate Law, LLC, a law firm focusing on Social Security disability claims only at the United States District Court and Circuit Court levels.  She hopes to use her perspective as a person living with disabilities and her many years as a disability practitioner to help the citizens of Albuquerque live their best possible lives.

Contact Info: [email protected]