Angelica Vega Cohort 3: 2021-2022
I was a member of the Coelho Center Law Fellowship Class of 2021–2022. The fellowship provided me with resources, such as LawHub for LSAT preparation, and opportunities that expanded my understanding of disability advocacy. One of the most impactful experiences I had during my time here was my participation in a White House focus group, which challenged me to reflect on my own journey and helped me realize that law school was a viable possibility for me.
After the fellowship, I focused on supporting my family by working as a Data Management Associate at JPMorgan Chase. Throughout that time, the Coelho Center remained an important source of support and mentorship for me. Katherine Perez, in particular, encouraged my educational goals and supported my applications as I pursued graduate school. I was ultimately awarded a full-tuition scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where I recently graduated with a Master of Science in Social Policy.
At Penn, I revisited many of the issues that had sparked my interest during the fellowship, including disability employment and data privacy. Through my year-long internship with the Penn Center for Public Health and courses such as Research and Evaluation and AI and Public Policy, I was able to further explore issues at the intersection of law, health equity, and public policy. Those experiences reinforced my desire to pursue a legal education and continue advocating for disability rights.
This fall, I will begin my legal studies at George Washington University Law School, where I was selected as a Public Interest and Public Service (PIPS) Scholar. As the first person in my family to attend law school, I am excited to deepen my understanding of the law, continue advancing disability rights, and learn how to use legal advocacy to create meaningful change in my community and beyond. I am grateful for the support the Coelho Center has continued to provide years after my fellowship, and I look forward to helping uplift others while growing as a disability leader in the fields of law and public policy.
Nathaniel Ross Cohort 3: 2021-2022
Over the past year, I have been serving as a Luce Scholar in Bangkok, Thailand, working full time as a Law & Policy Officer at an organization called Disabilities Thailand (DTH). DTH is the national umbrella organization for disabled people's associations in Thailand, and we also work closely with Thai government agencies. My work there has centered on disability law and policy by supporting projects in education, health care, employment, and transportation. I also spent part of the spring in Laos, working with the Lao Disabled People’s Association, especially on disaster mitigation and supportive programming for people who have recently acquired disabilities. Those experiences have shown me that disability rights are a global struggle, but one where not everyone is fighting for the same rights just yet. While I have grown more appreciative of the efforts of the forebears of disability rights in the US, I know how much more needs to be done at home and abroad to bring access to those who need it most.
This fall, I will begin at Yale Law School as a Samvid Scholar, which will allow me to graduate debt-free. I am incredibly lucky to be in this position, and Samvid’s support will give me greater freedom to pursue legal study and public-interest work focused on disability rights rather than worrying about debt. I am especially excited to join a national community of Scholars whose work spans many different fields.
My experience in the Coelho Law Fellowship helped set this path in motion. It was one of the first spaces where I met disabled students and advocates who treated disability as a legal and political question, rather than merely a personal obstacle. Coelho made law school feel both possible and necessary. Tony, Katherine, and all my Coelho Law Fellow Classmates have been incredibly important in supporting me on my journey.
Sueli Gwiazdowski Cohort 4: 2022-2023
I had a rewarding 1L year at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where I am a joint-degree candidate (JD/MBE). Leaning into the public interest community and taking on leadership roles within UPenn’s Disabled and Allied Law Students Association gave me the momentum I needed to get through such an academically rigorous year. Pro bono work supporting survivors of domestic violence as they navigate protection from abuse and custody orders with Philadelphia Legal Assistance became an avenue for me to stay grounded in public interest work during the academic year. Disability rights work is why I am in law school, and I am grateful to spend my 1L summer as an intern for the ACLU’s national Disability Rights Program in San Francisco. During my internship, I get to work on some of the most pressing disability rights issues impacting our community alongside world-class civil rights attorneys (including another Coelho Alumna - Britt Belwine!). Exploring the different niches within disability right law while interning at the ACLU is endlessly exciting. As I approach 2L, I am preparing for an externship with the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, where I will be supporting both the legal and policy teams as they navigate H.R.1’s major changes to Medicaid plans. I feel so lucky for the community and encouragement I found as a Coelho fellow in 2022, where Dr. Katherine Perez, Judy Heumann, and Hon. Tony Coelho all reaffirmed that we have what it takes to be the lawyers and advocates we want to be.
Vidya Surti Cohort 6: 2024-2025
Two years after concluding the Coelho Fellowship, I completed the first chapter of my professional career in scientific research. During this time, I contributed to multiple publications focused on optimizing formulation development to improve the quality of life for transplant patients. Alongside my laboratory work, I published patient narratives in pain society journals, sharing my lived experience with chronic pain. My advocacy was also recognized through my selection as one of the Pittsburgh Business Times 30 Under 30 honorees. Additionally, I was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Commission for Next Generation Engagement and invited to author an article for Leader to Leader introducing a novel leadership framework centered on designing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The Coelho Fellowship fundamentally reshaped how I understand disability, revealing the legal and policy frameworks that underpin accessibility, equity, and civil rights. Those lessons became a powerful complement to my work supporting therapeutic development for future clinical utilization in tandem with lab operations. Together, these experiences reinforced my belief that scientific innovation alone is insufficient without thoughtful policy and legal systems to ensure that breakthroughs are accessible, equitable, and responsive to the communities they are intended to serve. Furthermore, these experiences have clarified that my greatest impact lies at the intersection of science, disability, and patient care. While my research experience deepened my appreciation for biomedical innovation, volunteering alongside patients and reflecting on my own experiences with disability underscored that healing extends beyond the laboratory and the courtroom. Individuals with disabilities often face barriers that are social, legal, and structural as much as they are medical. This realization has strengthened my commitment to a career where I can translate scientific discovery into compassionate, person-centered care while advocating for systems that recognize accessibility as an essential component of health. Looking ahead, I intend to apply to joint programs in medicine and law, where I can build the clinical and legal expertise needed to champion disability rights, shape equitable health policy, and ensure that advances in science translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of patients.
Ka’iulani Bento Cohort 8: 2026
I am happy to share that I recently graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, an emphasis in Marketing, and a minor in Legal Studies.
This summer, I was selected as a 2026 Coelho Law Fellow through the Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation at Loyola Marymount University. As a fellow, I am developing my understanding of disability rights law and policy through coursework, legal writing, mentorship, and advocacy projects while preparing for law school.
In addition to this fellowship, I am currently pursuing my Hawaii Real Estate Salesperson License and look forward to joining Hawaiʻi Development Group, where I will support community-focused real estate and development initiatives. This experience will allow me to strengthen my knowledge of housing, property rights, and the unique needs of Hawaiʻi's communities while gaining practical business experience.
These opportunities reflect my long-term goal of becoming an attorney committed to serving Native Hawaiian and Indigenous communities through advocacy in disability rights, family law, criminal law, and issues affecting housing and access to justice. I am grateful for the mentors, family, and friends who have supported me throughout this journey and I’m excited for what lies ahead.
Warukira Julius Njuguna Cohort 8: 2026
I currently serve as a Coelho Law Disability Fellow with the Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation at Loyola Marymount University, where I contribute to advancing disability rights, policy advocacy, and leadership development for persons with disabilities globally.
In addition, I continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Eleven Advance Security Limited, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting inclusive security services while creating employment and leadership opportunities for women, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable populations. Through this role, I am working to strengthen community safety, survivor-centered reporting mechanisms, and disability-inclusive security practices across Kenya.
I am also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Disability & Development Pathways (DDP), a non-profit organization focused on empowering persons with disabilities, women, and vulnerable youth through advocacy, vocational training, leadership development, and access to assistive technologies. The organization seeks to advance social and economic inclusion while promoting equal access to opportunities.
Academically, I continue to build on my work as a criminologist and disability rights researcher, with research interests focused on disability, crime, victimization, access to justice, and inclusive public policy. My publications and advocacy efforts seek to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities and influence evidence-based reforms.
Beyond my professional responsibilities, I serve as a Board Member of the International Network for Social Security Advocates (INSSA), a Disability Liaison Officer at the University of Embu, and a Disabled Leaders Network Champion, where I work with diverse stakeholders to advance disability inclusion, leadership development, and equitable access to education, employment, and public participation.
These experiences continue to strengthen my commitment to creating a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities can fully participate, lead, and thrive. I am grateful to the Coelho Center and the fellowship community for their continued support and investment in disability leadership worldwide.