Monday, May 26, 2014

There's a New Lawyer In the Ramos Family!

I am proud to announce that last Friday, my sister Teresita Ramos graduated from Boston College Law.  She is now the fifth member of my immediate family with a law degree!  Of all five, Teresita and I are the closest in age.  Most importantly, we both share a passion for advocating on behalf of persons with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions.

At her law school graduation, Teresita received a special award for her "Exceptional Pro - Bono Service".    Pro bono publico, “for the public good” is a term used to describe professional work done voluntarily and without payment as a public service.  Through out law school my sister spent an extraordinary number of hours providing free legal assistance to disabled children and their families.  Thank you Tere for all the work that you have done on behalf of disabled students!

During her years in law school, my sister developed an impressive resume.  She clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and interned at Massachusetts's Disability Law Center, one of the most prestigious non-profit disability law groups in the Nation.       

After law school, Teresita will be working in in Lawrence, Massachusetts, providing legal services to low-income, immigrant Hispanic children with disabilities to address widespread denial of education rights, and empower parents to enforce their rights through culturally competent advocacy training.  This disability law work will funded by an "Equal Justice Fellowship" that she obtained.    

Teresita is starting her career as a disability lawyer at a crucial point in time when disability programs, particularly SSDI, are under constant political attack.  We need more strong advocates like her.  She comes to this area of the law with an outstanding resume.  She is fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Chinese.  She has a B.A. from Wellesley College and a masters in foreign service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.  Soon, she will be fighting for the disability benefits of the working class men and women of Connecticut and Massachusetts, who often need a lawyer that can explain the legal process in their native language.  Her experience in D.C. will also come in handy when we go to lobby at the Capitol on behalf of Social Security Disability Claimants.  Those in government and in politics who lately, have been attacking our disability programs, better be ready for my sister Teresita!