As the national movement known as REV UP marks its tenth anniversary of building the political power of the disability vote, communities across the United States are looking back at a decade of profound impact. Founded in 2016 by grassroots activists in Texas with the simple yet resonant motto, “Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power!”, REV UP has steadily expanded into a formidable nationwide force. Over the past ten years, the coalition has worked tirelessly to ensure that voters with disabilities are not only registered and informed, but also actively participating in the democratic process and having their voices heard by lawmakers at every level of government.
One of the greatest and most enduring strengths of this grassroots movement is the understanding that there is no single, rigid way to advocate. While every member and regional coalition remains united by a shared vision of an accessible and inclusive democracy, each participant brings a distinct, personal approach to the table. Some advocates focus on policy reform and legislative lobbying, while others organize massive voter registration drives or educational workshops. In Georgia, however, community advocate and artist Derek Heard has demonstrated that creativity, color, and imagination can serve as some of the most powerful tools available for civic engagement.
Heard is a talented artist and dedicated community advocate from Georgia who has maintained a long-standing affiliation with REV UP Georgia and the American Association of People with Disabilities, commonly known as AAPD. A proud 2002 alumnus of AAPD’s prestigious Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program, Heard’s advocacy extends across multiple organizations. Over the years, he has contributed his time, energy, and perspective to groups such as Uniting for Change, Synergies Works, and the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice. For Heard, whose primary mode of communication and understanding of the world involves drawings, graphics, and visual storytelling, art offers a universal language that transcends spoken barriers.
For Heard, visual art provides the ultimate medium to show people why voting truly matters in a way that touches their emotions and connects directly with their hearts. His creative works transform abstract or complicated legal concepts into approachable, visually accessible imagery, allowing individuals from all walks of life to engage meaningfully with voting rights efforts. By utilizing vibrant colors, expressive characters, and relatable themes, Heard has carved out a unique space where art and civic duty intersect.
Art, Heard explains, has the capacity to grow stronger over time, helping people truly understand what REV UP, voting, supported decision-making, and advocacy mean on a deeply personal level. When people see his work, it resonates with their own passions and values, bridging the gap between civic participation and personal identity.
The disability vote is a matter of profound importance to Heard, who has articulated through both his artwork and his own words why political participation is essential for people with disabilities. Voting, he notes, can be heard around the world, amplifying the community’s collective voice and making individuals stronger and more powerful. He recalls a time when he felt constrained—likening the experience to being “like a puppet”—upon learning about politicians and individuals in positions of power who attempted to pass laws designed to make voting more difficult for him and others in the disability community. Yet, getting involved with REV UP and finding his footing within the movement allowed Heard to break free from those limitations and make a tangible difference.
The journey to becoming a prominent voice in the accessibility movement did not happen overnight, nor did it happen without encouragement. Stacey Ramirez, a key figure with REV UP Georgia, was the very first person to encourage Heard to transform his artistic talents into a sustainable business and to channel that creativity directly into advocacy for voting rights. Because Ramirez recognized his talent and believed in his potential, Heard was able to expand his reach, sharing his work with a much wider audience and contributing meaningfully to the broader accessible democracy movement.
Reflecting on how his entrepreneurial journey began, Heard explains that it all started when he was struggling to find conventional employment that suited his interests and goals. It was Ramirez who posed a simple, life-changing question: “Why not try making your own?” Seeing the genuine passion in his heart, she suggested that he launch his own business and follow his creative instincts. That encouragement gave birth to Derek’s Doodles, the business and artistic platform through which Heard now produces his celebrated graphics.
Derek’s mother, Teresa Heard, has spoken candidly about the transformative role that REV UP Georgia played in helping her son recognize his own power as both an artist and a voting advocate. She recalls that members of REV UP Georgia were the very first people to genuinely view Derek’s artwork as a valuable asset rather than a mere hobby. Crucially, they were also the first organization to officially pay Derek for his graphic design work. Looking at where her son is today, Teresa credits a substantial portion of his success to the vision of Stacey Ramirez and REV UP Georgia, noting that they saw Derek as a complete individual, carved out a dedicated space for him to exercise his creativity, and enabled him to conduct vital civic work in his own unique and brilliant way.
Driven by this support and a deep sense of purpose, Derek Heard remains relentlessly committed to the cause. As he succinctly puts it, that is precisely why he is going to keep working hard until the end.
Derek’s Doodles has since become a staple of REV UP Georgia’s online presence, with his artwork prominently featured across the organization’s website. Among his most notable creations are illustrations that draw inspiration from classic fairy tales, including well-known stories like Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the Three Little Pigs. When asked why he chose fairy tales as a thematic foundation for his voting rights graphics, Heard’s answer is simple and optimistic: because fairy tales always bring happy endings. Through this imagery, he reimagines familiar narratives to emphasize the importance of civic participation, such as depicting characters taking time out of their day to ensure they make it to the polls.
The impact of Heard’s artwork continues to grow both in creative scope and geographical reach. Building upon his success as an illustrator and advocate, he is currently working on an independent movie project titled Doodling for Democracy. The film serves as a dynamic extension of his advocacy, focusing squarely on the concept of art as a tool for advocacy, the undeniable importance of the disability voice, and the collective strength found in the ballot box.
Beyond his individual projects, Heard places a strong emphasis on the interconnectedness of the various REV UP coalitions operating across the country. To illustrate this philosophy, he created an imaginative conceptual artwork known as the “REV UP Galaxy.” In this expansive depiction of the solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets are represented by different types of people making up the broader community. Placing himself firmly in the center of this cosmic illustration with a self-portrait atop the sun, Heard surrounds himself with various advocates, all connected by words and icons symbolizing power, leadership, inclusivity, artistry, and the fundamental importance of the vote.
Explaining the metaphor behind his galactic artwork, Heard describes himself as the solar system’s sun, upon which everyone relies to do their absolute best to make the planet a better place. Providing warm rays to all the surrounding planets makes him feel valued and important, reinforcing his personal duty to support people, advance the mission of REV UP, and champion the decision-making power of advocates everywhere.
Within Heard’s inspiring vision of the REV UP galaxy, every individual has a distinct and essential role to play. Through his vibrant artwork, his upcoming film projects, and his steadfast grassroots advocacy, he has left an indelible mark on communities near and far. As the REV UP movement looks ahead past its first decade of impact, visionary leaders like Derek Heard are already planning for the future, determined to continue helping people register, engage, and cast their ballots until the end of the galaxy.
