Meredith Bartley
Meredith comes to Georgetown after three years at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the premier policy and advocacy organization by and for autistic people in the United States. As Communications Coordinator, she worked to translate policy and legal decisions into accessible formats like Easy Read and plain language so everyone can understand the decisions affecting their lives. ASAN saw big wins in ending restraint and seclusion, fighting for access to healthcare especially for trans and nonbinary autistic people, and raising interest in ending guardianship after #FreeBritney put abusive guardianship practices in the public eye and on the agenda of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
As a JD candidate, she looks forward to continuing to explore legal practice areas related to disability rights and disability justice. Her primary goal is to make meaningful strides towards ending guardianship/conservatorship for all and making alternatives like Supported Decision Making more widely available.
Meredith completed her Master’s in Disability Studies from the University of Leeds as a 2019-2020 US-UK Fulbright scholar. Prior to Leeds, she graduated from the American University with a Bachelor’s in Film and Media Arts, and storytelling for social change remains close to her heart and a key tool in her advocacy toolbox.
Originally from Kansas, she has been in DC for almost ten years and is thrilled to remain a part of her DC community. In her spare time, she can be found at Audi Field cheering on the Washington Spirit, DC’s professional women’s soccer team.