About the Commission on Disability Rights

    Members, Liaisons, History, and Contact Information

    Commissioners 2019-2020

    Chair: Denise Avant

    Chicago, IL

    Chair: Denise Avant

    Lydia X.Z. Brown

    Washington, DC

    Lydia X.Z. Brown

    Robert Dinerstein

    Washington, DC

    Robert Dinerstein

    Joe Espo

    Balitmore, MD

    Joe Espo

    Elizabeth Kelly

    Spokane, WA

    Elizabeth Kelly

    Marc Maurer

    Baltimore, MD

    Marc Maurer

    Elizabeth Pendo

    St. Louis, MO

    Elizabeth Pendo

    Sean Pevsner

    Arlington, TX

    Sean Pevsner

    Sarah E. Redfield

    York, ME

    Sarah E. Redfield

    Michael Sabella

    Chicago, IL

    Michael Sabella

    Carol Steinberg

    Newton, MA

    Carol Steinberg

    Robert M. Tudisco

    Tarrytown, NY

    Robert M. Tudisco

    Liaisons to the Commission 2017-2018

    Beverly Quail

    Board of Governors Liaison

    Beverly Quail

    Honorable Judge Robert (Bob) S. Cohen

    Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Liaison

    Honorable Judge Robert (Bob) S. Cohen

    Margaret M. Foran, Esq.

    Section of Business Law Liaison

    Margaret M. Foran, Esq.

    Honorable Judge Kristin (Kris) Booth Glen

    Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Liaison

    Honorable Judge Kristin (Kris) Booth Glen

    Guy Arcidiacono, Esq.

    Criminal Justice Section Liaison

    Guy Arcidiacono, Esq.

    Stephen C. Zollman

    Section of Family Law Liaison

    Stephen C. Zollman

    James F. Carr, Esq.

    Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division Liaison

    James F. Carr, Esq.

    W. Thomas Smith, J.D., PhrmD

    Health Law Section Liaison

    W. Thomas Smith, J.D., PhrmD

    Ira E. Marquette. Esq.

    Section of Intellectual Property Law Liaison

    Ira E. Marquette. Esq.

    Paul E. Johnson, Esq.

    Section of International Law Liaison

    Paul E. Johnson, Esq.

    Honorable Judge Julian Mann, III

    Judicial Division Liaison

    Honorable Judge Julian Mann, III

    Christopher J. Kuczynski

    Section of Labor and Employment Law Liaison

    Christopher J. Kuczynski

    Randi B. Starrett, Esq.

    Law Practice Division Liaison

    Randi B. Starrett, Esq.

    Allison Smith

    Law Student Division Liaison

    Allison Smith

    Hailing Liu, Esq.

    Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Liaison

    Hailing Liu, Esq.

    Hugh B. Wellons, Esq.

    Section of Science & Technology Law Liaison

    Hugh B. Wellons, Esq.

    Charles S. Brown, Esq.

    Senior Lawyer Division Liaison

    Charles S. Brown, Esq.

    Eileen Sullivan, Esq.

    Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division Liaison

    Eileen Sullivan, Esq.

    Alan S. Rachlin, Esq.

    Section of Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Liaison

    Alan S. Rachlin, Esq.

    Sarah Ivey Young

    Young Lawyer Division Liaison

    Sarah Ivey Young

    Belinda A. Bacon, Esq., P.E.

    Forum on Construction Law Liaison

    Belinda A. Bacon, Esq., P.E.

    Andra J. Terrell, Esq.

    Forum on Franchising Liaison

    Andra J. Terrell, Esq.

    Diana K. Flynn

    Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Liaison

    Diana K. Flynn

    Honorable Judge Marguerite D. Downing

    Commission on Youth at Risk Liaison

    Honorable Judge Marguerite D. Downing

    Denise R. Avant, Esq.

    Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity Liaison

    Denise R. Avant, Esq.

    Contact Us

    Click here to see additional contact information for the Commission, and to read about our staff.

    Click here - contact information

    History of the Commission

    The ABA’s Commission on the Mentally Disabled was established in 1973 to respond to the advocacy needs of persons with mental disabilities. After the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the ABA broadened the Commission’s mission to serve all persons with disabilities and changed its name to the Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law. In 2011, the members changed the name to the Commission on Disability Rights to better reflect its mission. Today, the Commission carries out an array of projects and activities addressing disability-related public policy, disability law, and the professional needs of lawyers and law students with disabilities.

    View our - Initiatives

    Diversity Plan

    The Commission--recognizing the importance of diversity in its operations and mission, as well as ABA's Goal III--established a diversity plan. The plan outlines the Commission's plan to track and promote diversity and eliminate bias.

    To see the plan - click here