In recent years, significant strides have been made in recognizing and advancing the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. Yet, despite these advances, many individuals still face discrimination, exclusion, and inequity in various aspects of life, including education, employment, healthcare, and social participation. To create a truly inclusive global society, it is essential to focus on advancing the rights, inclusion, and equity of people with disabilities.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), adopted in 2006, marked a pivotal moment in the global recognition of the rights of people with disabilities. The CRPD emphasizes the need for full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities. It serves as a comprehensive international framework for promoting and protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities, covering areas such as accessibility, participation, education, health, and employment.
However, despite the progress made since the adoption of the CRPD, there remains a significant gap between the aspirations outlined in the convention and the realities experienced by people with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, over one billion people, or approximately 15% of the global population, live with some form of disability. Many of these individuals face significant barriers to accessing basic services and opportunities, often due to physical, social, and attitudinal barriers.
In the realm of disability rights advocacy, few individuals have made as significant an impact as Rebecca Williford, who joined us last week on The Caring Economy. As the President and CEO of Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), Williford has dedicated her career to advancing the rights, inclusion, and equity of people with disabilities through high-impact litigation, education, and advocacy. Her journey from a legal fellow to the helm of one of the nation’s leading disability rights organizations is a testament to her unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
Williford’s path to becoming a disability rights champion began in her teenage years when she became a wheelchair user. This personal experience ignited a passion for advocacy that would shape her entire career. “My life’s work—since becoming a wheelchair-user as a teenager—is to ensure, for as many people as possible, that having a disability does not impede one’s ability to dream and live the life they have imagined,” Williford explains.
After earning her B.A. in political science with highest honors and her J.D. as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Williford embarked on her legal career at DRA as a fellow. Over the years, she climbed the ranks, holding positions such as Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, Managing Attorney, and Deputy Director of Litigation before assuming her current role as President and CEO in April 2023.
Throughout her tenure at DRA, Williford has been at the forefront of groundbreaking litigation that has set important precedents for disability rights. One of her most notable achievements was the successful litigation of Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled v. Bloomberg, a class action lawsuit representing over 900,000 people with disabilities challenging New York City’s failure to address their needs in its disaster plans.
Another significant case in Williford’s portfolio is Legal Services for Prisoners with Children v. Ahern, where her efforts resulted in a court-enforceable settlement agreement ensuring substantial improvements to basic accessibility for people with disabilities in one of California’s largest county jails. Her work on American Council of the Blind v. Hulu led to Hulu agreeing to make its website and software applications accessible via screen readers and increase audio description tracks for streaming content, marking a significant victory for visually impaired individuals.
Williford’s influence extends beyond the courtroom. She is a respected leader and mentor in the disability community, frequently speaking at national legal and disability conferences. Her commitment to fostering leadership within the disability community is evident in her involvement with various organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Disability Rights Bar Association and is a member of the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association.
As we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this summer, Williford’s work takes on even greater significance. The ADA, signed into law on July 26, 1990, is a landmark civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the public.
While the ADA has undoubtedly improved accessibility and opportunities for people with disabilities, Williford recognizes that there is still much work to be done. “As society evolves, technologically, environmentally, politically, and socially, DRA has critical work to do to ensure we are building a truly inclusive world from the ground up for the disability community nationwide,” she states.
Under Williford’s leadership, DRA continues to push for the full realization of the ADA’s promise. The organization’s work spans a wide range of issues, from ensuring equal access to education and transportation to advocating for accessible technology and public benefits. Williford’s approach emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in disability rights advocacy, recognizing that disability often intersects with other forms of marginalization.
One of Williford’s key strengths is her ability to build coalitions and foster collaboration. She spearheads DRA’s intersectional community outreach efforts, bringing together social justice and disability rights groups to ensure that their advocacy has as wide a reach and impact as possible. This collaborative approach is crucial in addressing the complex, multifaceted challenges faced by the disability community.
Williford’s leadership comes at a critical time for disability rights. As technology rapidly advances and society undergoes significant changes, ensuring that these developments are inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities is more important than ever. From advocating for accessible digital platforms to ensuring that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence don’t perpetuate or exacerbate existing inequalities, Williford and DRA are at the forefront of these crucial battles.
Moreover, Williford’s work highlights the ongoing need for vigilance in protecting and expanding disability rights. Despite the progress made since the ADA’s passage, people with disabilities continue to face significant barriers in areas such as employment, housing, and healthcare. Williford’s leadership at DRA is instrumental in addressing these persistent challenges and pushing for continued progress.
As we reflect on the ADA’s anniversary and look to the future of disability rights, leaders like Rebecca Williford give us reason for optimism. Her career trajectory—from a young advocate to the head of a major disability rights organization—serves as an inspiration not only to those in the disability community but to all who strive for a more just and equitable society. Her story reminds us that the fight for disability rights is not just a legal battle, but a deeply personal one for millions of Americans. It’s about ensuring that every individual, regardless of their abilities, could fully participate in and contribute to society. As Williford continues to lead DRA into the future, her work serves as a powerful testament to the ongoing importance of the ADA and the enduring spirit of the disability rights movement.
