Staff Members

Xian Horn

March 7, 2025

Xian Horn is a joyful half-Asian woman with Cerebral Palsy, who serves as founder of the non-profit, Give Beauty Wings. She is an advocate, speaker, Forbes Women contributor. Xian was named Women’s eNews’ 21 Leaders for the 21st Century in 2017 and honoured in Walker’s Legacy Power 15 as well as National Disability Mentoring Coalition’s … Continue reading “Xian Horn”

Michele Lee

February 3, 2025

Michele Lee is a dedicated advocate for disability rights and accessibility. Michele’s professional background spans both corporate and nonprofit sectors, where she has consistently championed disability rights.  Recently, she has held roles as the Head of Accessibility Strategy and Business Development at a leading autonomous vehicle company and Director of Employment Programs at a national … Continue reading “Michele Lee”

Kathi Pugh

January 29, 2025

Kathi Pugh spent her legal career at Morrison Foerster, an international law firm. She retired after serving as the longtime Senior Pro Bono Counsel, where she was responsible for overseeing all facets of the firm’s comprehensive pro bono program. Kathi was appointed to a number of American Bar Association committees through her work on the … Continue reading “Kathi Pugh”

Victoria Pilger

September 9, 2024

Victoria Pilger (she/her/hers) joined Disability Rights Advocates in 2024 as a Staff Attorney. Prior to joining DRA, Victoria clerked for the Honorable Lois Bloom in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Victoria received her J.D. from the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, where she served … Continue reading “Victoria Pilger”

Cathy Miranda

August 27, 2024

I have an accounting background both in nonprofit and for profit. The depth of my nonprofit accounting background started at CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, a nonprofit that provides leadership programs, consulting to nonprofit sectors, as a Fiscal Analyst for 12 plus years. I also started a role in Human Resources for the same organization to work … Continue reading “Cathy Miranda”

James Ian

August 15, 2024

James Ian is an award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, writer, and graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. He has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (“SMA”) Type 3, and is a passionate advocate for authentic representation of disabled artists in music, TV, film, and other media. He is the singer and primary songwriter of “SPACES,” which is a first-of-its-kind … Continue reading “James Ian”

Emily Ladau

June 17, 2024

A Conversation with Emily Ladau Emily Ladau is a passionate disability rights activist, writer, storyteller, and digital communications consultant. She is the author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Emily’s career began at the age … Continue reading “Emily Ladau”

Scott Gordon

June 3, 2024

Scott Gordon joined Disability Rights Advocates in 2024 as a Senior Staff Attorney. Prior to joining Disability Rights Advocates, Mr. Gordon was an attorney at Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP in Emeryville, California from 2018 to 2024, where he litigated class and collective actions on behalf of employees and consumers. At Schneider Wallace, Mr. Gordon … Continue reading “Scott Gordon”

Aileen Parker

May 23, 2024

Aileen Parker is DRA’s Director of Development. With over twenty years of experience in fundraising, Aileen brings significant experience identifying, cultivating, and stewarding major donors and institutional funders for national and local nonprofits. She has worked extensively training Boards, staff, and other constituent groups in fundraising, and relishes leveraging her expertise to garner resources for … Continue reading “Aileen Parker”