The AAIDD Religion and Spirituality Interest Network is pleased to announce that Joohi Tahir has been named the recipient of the 2026 Reimagining Spirituality Leadership Award.
Joohi Tahir: Co-Founder & Executive Director of @muhsenorg, championing inclusion for Muslims with disabilities! Boston University grad with 20+ years in corporate & global marketing, but her greatest inspiration? Her daughter on the autism spectrum.For 18 years, she’s led initiatives advancing accessibility & acceptance across North America. MWA 2015 Inspiring Women’s Award winner, recognized as Top 7 Muslim American Women to Celebrate in 2017, and TRT World Citizen Award 2026.
This award recognizes leaders whose work has significantly shaped the spiritual lives, inclusion, and belonging of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It honours those who expand access to faith communities, deepen understanding of spiritual gifts and needs, and foster meaningful participation in religious life.
Joohi Tahir serves as Executive Director of MUHSEN (Muslims Understanding & Helping Special Education Needs), a pioneering organization dedicated to advancing inclusion within Muslim communities. Under her leadership, MUHSEN has developed innovative programs that support accessibility, awareness, and full participation for individuals with disabilities and their families across North America and internationally.
Central to Joohi’s work is a commitment to reimagining what inclusion looks like in faith communities. Through initiatives such as the MUHSEN Masjid Certification Program, accessible religious education, and supported participation in pilgrimage, her leadership has helped reshape both practice and understanding. Her work reflects a sustained integration of faith and action, ensuring that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not simply accommodated, but welcomed as full participants in community life.
Joohi’s influence extends beyond any single organization. She has contributed to broader interfaith and collaborative efforts, helping to build bridges across communities and deepen shared commitments to dignity, belonging, and mutual learning.
The award will be presented in connection with the AAIDD Annual Conference, June 22–24, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, during the Religion and Spirituality Interest Network forum.
Please join us in celebrating Joohi Tahir and her ongoing leadership in advancing spiritual inclusion and belonging.
AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Network 