U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Reacts to Senate Confirmation of Danté Quintin Allen

The U.S. Department of Education has confirmed Danté Quintin Allen as the commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Secretary Cardona expressed his support:

“By confirming Mr. Danté Allen as the commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Department of Education is gaining an enthusiastic advocate for students and individuals with disabilities. Mr. Allen brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors, and he has proven himself to be a capable leader. Previously, as the executive director at CalABLE, he successfully empowered thousands of Californians with disabilities and their families to invest in their financial futures. I am excited to work with Mr. Allen to ensure equitable access to education and training, leading to good-paying jobs, economic security, and independent lives for individuals with disabilities and all students.”

About Danté Quintin Allen

Danté Allen currently serves as the executive director for CalABLE, an investment program under California’s qualified federal ABLE Act that caters to people with disabilities. As the head of CalABLE since 2018, Allen has expanded the program’s reach significantly. With over 8,000 active accounts and almost $80 million in assets under management, CalABLE has emerged as the fastest-growing ABLE program in the country. Prior to joining CalABLE, Allen held communication leadership positions in the public and private sectors. He served as a senior communications officer in the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity and as the communications director for the senior operations executive at Kaiser Permanente.

Allen, who uses a wheelchair full-time due to spina bifida, is a strong advocate for disability rights and equity. He has been actively involved in raising awareness about reducing healthcare and financial disparities, particularly among people of color and people with disabilities. Allen also serves as a board member for Resources for Independent Living, a non-profit organization in Sacramento that supports the needs of individuals with disabilities to live independently. Throughout his career, he has played leadership roles in employee resource groups for people with disabilities. Allen completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Davis, and holds a master’s degree from The University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism and Communication.