Equip for Equality joins the disability rights community in mourning the loss of Marca Bristo, an early pioneer of the disability rights movement and founder of Access Living, the Center for Independent Living in Chicago. For decades, Marca was a dynamic and innovative leader in the disability rights movement locally, nationally and internationally. She served as Chair of the National Council on Disability and played a vital role in securing passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Most recently, Marca was instrumental in a successful effort to prevent proposed cuts to Medicaid, which would have been devastating to people with disabilities.

We had the honor and pleasure of working alongside Marca many times over the past 35 years, including our joint systemic litigation to ensure that the Chicago Transit Authority’s buses and trains were truly accessible, and our three landmark class actions to give thousands of people with disabilities in Illinois the opportunity to leave institutions and live in the communities of their choosing.

Our deepest condolences go out to Marca’s family and to every individual touched by her extraordinary advocacy efforts. She was an amazing person and lived a remarkable life dedicated to advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities. We will all miss her immensely.

Zena Naiditch
Equip for Equality
Founder/President & CEO