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Bio & Resume

Career Highlights

  • Headed the Washington D.C. office of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), 2011-2015.
  • Accepted into the Fulbright Specialist Program, U.S. Department of State, 2014.
  • Leader on the Hill and in grassroots efforts for the attempt at U.S. ratification of the CRPD, 2012- 2014.
  • Started and managed the Making it Work initiative with Handicap International (now Humanity and Inclusion) to utilize good practices to implement the CRPD globally, 2008-2011.
  • Founding member of Mediators Beyond Borders, 2008.
  • Served as Public Relations Coordinator for Mobility International USA (MIUSA) 1998-2000, and consultant/trainer numerous times since.
  • Admitted to the Bar in the state of: Maryland (2007), Massachusetts (2007), and D.C. (2008).
  • Degrees received: J.D. University of Maryland, School of Law, 2007; M.A. Brandeis University, Sustainable International Development; B.A. Rollins College, Environmental Policy, International Relations.
  • Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Resume

Bio:

Rhonda Raven Neuhaus is a lawyer, disability rights advocate, coach and healer. She holds a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, an M.A. in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University and a B.A. from Rollins College.

She has worked for over 20 years focusing on human rights, advocacy, capacity-building and civil society strengthening in international development programming.  She has provided subject matter expertise to governments and NGO’s on human rights law, policy, international disability standards and strategies for ensuring the rights of all underrepresented groups in development programming. From 2008-2011, she built and managed the Making it Work Initiative working towards implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at Handicap International. From 2011-2015, she was the Policy Analyst for Government Affairs at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), running their Washington DC’s policy office. At DREDF, she focused on advocacy around persons with disabilities in areas including healthcare, education, transportation. She led actions towards US ratification of the CRPD and worked in coalition building within the disability and civil rights communities. As part of the LGBT and Jewish communities as well as a woman with a disability, she personally and professionally understands the concepts of intersectionality within social justice and human rights frameworks.

She has been a consultant on disability and development issues for the US State Department and the US Embassy in Mexico providing education and training on gender and disability rights as well as with BlueLaw International, providing human rights education and advocacy services relating to the CRPD. Prior to her legal education, she worked as an inclusive development specialist at Mobility International USA (MIUSA) where she designed and implemented international exchange and economic development programming worldwide. In 2014, she was also accepted into the Fulbright Specialist Program with U.S. Department of State for her expertise in disability rights and civil & human rights

In addition to her longtime project design, implementation and advocacy work, she is an experienced trainer and facilitator, having trained and presented in over 55 countries globally. She is a Mediator and conflict resolution professional and was a founding member of Mediators Beyond Borders. She has co-produced training videos and published in local, national and international media on the subject of human rights and disability inclusion.

Complementing her career in human and civil rights, Rhonda has had a healing practice for more than 20 years, Spiral Healing by Raven. She offers private sessions on *Self-care and Healing for the Advocate* – as well as supporting individuals and groups via many healing and coaching modalities which support people’s deep healing and growth. She holds for a wide range of deep work to support the individual. She has learned the importance of healing trauma and re-balancing our bodies and energy systems to improve the effectiveness our work. She believes there are many ways to positively affect change and healing in this world and is excited for her work in this area.

She is currently available for both disability rights keynotes, presentations, trainings and clients seeking support with all that is currently occurring in the world — and with all that we collectively work to accomplish. She is currently based in Maryland, near Washington, D.C. and spends part of the year in Costa Rica.

Career Highlight Images