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From U.S. Army Medic to Ph.D. Scholar and NYC Special Education Teacher:
Meet Dr. Louis Olander
Louis Olander, Ph.D. is the Director of Research and Veteran Initiatives at Disability:IN, where he leads efforts to advance disability inclusion in the workplace, particularly for disabled veterans. A U.S. Army veteran who served as a combat medic in Baghdad, Dr. Olander went on to earn his doctorate and spend 16 years as a special education teacher in New York City. His personal and professional experiences have shaped his understanding of disability, accessibility, and equity, inspiring his work to create inclusive environments where all individuals can thrive. Through his leadership, Dr. Olander continues to champion programs that empower veterans and people with disabilities to achieve meaningful careers and contribute their full potential.
Tell us about your personal journey.
I enlisted in the US Army in 2001 and got to basic training on September 10 – what I’d thought would be a fairly uncomplicated engagement to get college paid for turned out to be anything but. In 2004 I ended up in Baghdad, as a medic for an infantry unit patrolling the infamous airport road. When I was free and clear of the military, I became a teacher in the New York City public schools, which is what I pursued my doctorate in. I taught special education for 16 years in a range of settings, but didn’t really draw the connections between my own disability and that of my students fully until my current role as Director of Research and Veteran Initiatives at Disability:IN, where we’re supporting our partners in getting the best out of their workforces by supporting their employees with disabilities, including disabled veterans.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
I’d thought that I would work in education for my whole life, but in 2023 I needed to walk away from public education – the active shooter drills that are now part of the landscape of US public education became too much for me to manage. Over the last few years, I’ve really come to think much more about myself as a disabled veteran and have come to own my own story more – in military culture humility is highly valued, so talking about myself and sharing my story hasn’t come easily. Moving into this work has led me to learn how my own story can open doors for others.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned through your work?
I think that in this society we often think about disability as something that is static and binary – that is, you either have a disability or you don’t, and that that is unchanging for the most part. It was very important for me to learn how people become disabled by things that happen, of course, but also by contexts that undervalue difference or atypicality. That lesson about context has really shaped how I think about accessibility and fairness in the world.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
There is a pretty wide gulf between the world we live in and the world I wish we lived in. So much of what I’ve always done has been to make that a little smaller. I think the relationships that we have with each other and the care that we show for each other are critical.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
My greatest aspiration is that future generations face less and less resistance in pursuing their world. I believe that supporting young people in fulfilling their aspirations is of monumental importance. The work that GlobalMindED does to empower them enriches all of our lives.
Contact Dr. Louis Olander:
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