Mary Lou has been a disability rights law and policy advocate for over thirty–five years. In 1979 she co–founded the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), a leading national disability rights law and policy center, and presently serves as senior policy advisor with DREDF, directing the organization’s special projects. During her career she has served as a policy consultant, trainer and lecturer on disability and related civil rights topics. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the prestigious Henry B. Betts award in 2002 for improving the lives of people with disabilities and the community leadership award from the San Francisco Foundation. She has also done extensive work improving healthcare access for people with disabilities. It is this expertise and passion that makes her invaluable as Vice President of EBI’s board.
Current role