International Women’s Day Spotlight: Women Who Paved the Way for Disability Equality 

Sunday, March 8th was International Women’s Day (IWD)—a day to honor women’s ongoing fight for equality and liberation. The day celebrates women’s social, cultural, political, and economic achievements while also serving as a call to action and a reminder of the work still needed to achieve gender equality. The first International Women’s Day took place in 1911, more than a century ago.

“IWD is not country, group, or organization specific. IWD is a movement, powered by the collective efforts of all.” –IWD Website 

At our Firm, we wanted to honor the pioneering women who, through courage and advocacy, advanced equality and rights for people with disabilities. Here are highlights from just a few of their groundbreaking contributions.

Women Who Shaped Disability Advocacy in America 

Judy Heumann (1947-2023)- Known as the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement,” at just 18 months old, Heumann contracted polio in Brooklyn, NY, which caused her to use a wheelchair for mobility. After facing challenges in childhood—such as being denied the right to attend school because her wheelchair was considered a “fire hazard”—Heumann was later denied the right to teach in the same school district. Despite passing her written and oral exams, she failed her physical exam because she could not walk. Heumann sued the New York Board of Education, which resulted in her becoming the first teacher in New York State to use a wheelchair. In 1977, she led the 26-day sit-in protest in San Francisco that led to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act being signed into law, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities who receive federal financial assistance and ensuring equal access to education, employment, and public services. 

Heumann also served in the Clinton and Obama administrations. From 1993 to 2001, she was the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the Department of Education. In 2010, President Obama appointed her as the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State, where she served until 2017.

Alice Wong (1974-2025)- Alice Wong was diagnosed at birth with spinal muscular atrophy, neuromuscular disorder. She was unable to walk around the age of eight. Despite her experiences with adversity, she dedicated her life and career to confronting systemic ableism through storytelling, advocacy, and community organizing.  Wong was also an author and started the Disability Visability Project (DVP), created in 2014 before the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990.  The DVP helps to amplify voices in the disabled communities.  

Wong served as a presidential appointee to the National Council on Disability by Obama in 2013.  

Senator Tammy Duckworth (1968-present)- Senator Duckworth is the first woman with a disability to be elected in Congress in 2016.  She is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and the first Thai woman elected to Congress; Sen. Duckworth is also the first double amputee elected to the Senate. Amongst her many feats, Sen. Duckworth is an important member of government, advocating for disabled veterans and other marginalized communities. 

Carolyn Colvin (1942-present)- Colvin is an American public administrator who has held senior leadership roles at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and in state and local government. She served as the Acting Commissioner of Social Security from February 14, 2013, to January 20, 2017 (nearly four years), after previously holding the position of Principal Deputy Commissioner. In that role, she oversaw one of the largest federal agencies, with tens of thousands of employees and responsibility for paying hundreds of billions in benefits to more than 60 million Americans annually. Colvin is especially noted for her commitment to serving vulnerable populations, and her work as a public servant has helped improve the lives of communities across the country. 

Nyman Turkish’s Leading Women: Driving Fierce Advocacy 

Deputy Managing Partner Melissa Nyman has achieved numerous milestones throughout her career, including helping drive meaningful change as counsel for clients in a suit against Detroit Metro Airport for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case resulted in a settlement and required the Wayne County Airport Authority to implement necessary accommodations, which forced Detroit Metro Airport to move the waiting area location for public transportation, which was previously in a distant and inaccessible location, as well as install ramps.  

Partner Jessica Turkish has helped thousands of clients get benefits. Her degree in clinical psychology helps her connect with clients on a deeper level and ensure they are fully supported. 

“Being a woman in law means always being my authentic self.

If you were to ask any of my thousands of clients over the past decade, they would tell you that I care deeply about their emotional well-being—especially how they are feeling as they approach their disability hearing. This is a stressful, overwhelming event with serious implications. It is imperative that each of my clients knows how deeply I care about them. Many of them have no one else in their corner. 

I balance my empathetic presence with fierce advocacy. During court proceedings, there are situations where I may need to cross-examine a challenging witness or convince a judge of my theory of the case. I take pride in being able to command an audience and never back down, while always remaining professional.” 

Social Security Disability Department Chair and Senior Counsel, Natalie Keeve, has been with our Firm for 9 years and has helped fight for thousands of clients to get the benefits they deserve. 

“On International Women’s Day, I’m reminded that celebrating women must include women with disabilities, too. As a disability attorney, I see how often their voices are left out of the conversation. Real progress means making sure that equality isn’t just something we talk about, but something everyone can actually experience.” 

Senior Counsel Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Christina Carrasco and Alexandra Kabbaz‑Szabo are also accomplished members of our team. Most recently, they played key roles in two separate cases—Sidahmed and Silveira, respectively. Both decisions resulted in a significant ruling by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)  by underscoring the need for strict compliance with QME panel request rules to protect due process in California Workers’ Compensation law.

Without this precedent, procedural errors could continue unchecked, potentially causing delays or even leading to the use of invalid experts in certain cases. 

Fierce Advocacy

Throughout history, countless women have made a lasting impact on the disability community. At Nyman Turkish, we are proud to have many exceptional women on our team—from Deputy Managing Partner Melissa Nyman and Partner Jessica Turkish to Senior Counsel and SSD Department Chair Natalie Keeve, whose advocacy work has been truly remarkable, as well as our attorneys, management team, and support staff. Their dedication, expertise, and leadership are essential to our Firm’s success and play a key role in fostering the inclusive culture we strive to uphold.