Education

Fordham University School of Law, J.D. 1990

Long Island University, course work towards Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology

Gallaudet University, Washington, DC. MA, Education of the Deaf 1976

Iona College, New Rochelle, NY. BA, Communication Sciences 1974

Professional Experience

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Fordham University School of Law (1998-Present)

Staff Attorney, Hofstra Law School, Disabilities Law Clinic (1992-96)

Lead counsel for the plaintiff in Bartlett v. New York State Board of Law Examiners, a landmark case on the rights of people with disabilities

Association of the Bar of the City of New York Chair Committee on Legal Issues Affecting Persons with Disabilities (2000-03), Member, Transportation Committee (2005-Present)

Author of law review and professional journal articles; chapters in numerous books, co-editor of special issue of “Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal,” published by the Learning Disabilities Association. Chapter in Representing Individuals with Disabilities, 3^rd Edition, published by New York State Bar Association.

Professional Advisory Board, Learning Disabilities Association of America

New York Branch - International Dyslexia Association, President, Board of Directors since 1998. www.nybida.org.

Founding member of the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) www.ahead.org

Special education teacher and college administrator (1975-81)

Sign language interpreter with experience interpreting on Broadway and Off-Broadway (1978-00)

Branch manager Oppenheimer mutual funds, Regional sales manager (1982-87)

Sought after speaker and regular advisor of faculty and administrators regarding issues pertaining to higher education and disabilities; high-stakes standardized tests; and transitioning students with disabilities from high school to postsecondary education.

Civic Experience

President, Boerum Hill Association (1993-1999), Chair Traffic & Transportation Committee; Chair, Land Use Committee (1992-2005); Chair of Atlantic Yards Task Force (2003-2006); Member, Hoyt-Schermerhorn Task Force.

Co-founder, Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Coalition, created to bring forward the voice of the communities surrounding downtown Brooklyn regarding transportation and land use concerns.

Chair, Gowanus Expressway Community Coalition & Immediate Past Chair, Gowanus Community Stakeholder Group, which advocate for a progressive and transparent process for replacing the elevated Gowanus Expressway with an environmentally responsible tunnel–a desperately needed investment in our infrastructure, creating jobs, improving quality and increasing national security. [Report of the Stakeholders’ Group.]

Member, Independent Neighborhood Democrats.

Member, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats.

Member, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn.

Member, Executive Committee, 504 Democrats, the country’s oldest political club focusing on disability rights.

New York State Committeewoman and Democratic District Leader of 52^nd A.D.