TJay Middlebrook is an equity-focused leader who has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights and needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. His advocacy spans the globe, successfully affecting policy changes for disability communities in Uganda as well as in the United States.  

Middlebrook has a proven track record of advocating for disability rights throughout different sectors. In 2013, he traveled to Uganda to educate Deaf Ugandans about self-advocacy in communication access. He also supported the Uganda Association for the Deaf while and the Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to amend the country’s Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006. In Minnesota, TJay collaborated with domestic violence shelters and organizations to develop procedures that guarantee accessible communication and other accommodations for Deaf adults and children who are survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. Later, as an accessibility coordinator for the City of Saint Paul in Minnesota, Middlebrook worked closely with public officials and agencies to enforce accessibility throughout the City’s services and programs.   

Middlebrook currently serves at the Minnesota Department of Human Services as a Regional Service Supervisor. He oversees Regional Services for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals as well as individuals experiencing hearing loss.