The Coelho Center
Written by Katherine Perez
The current and inaugural director of The Coelho Center
In 1964, Tony Coelho walked the halls of Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles as student body president his senior year. Influenced by LMU’s Jesuit priests, Tony would view his work in policy and politics as his life’s ministry.
When Congressman Tony Coelho introduced the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the House of Representatives in 1988, he did so on behalf of disabled Americans and,
notably, as a disabled American himself. Tony understood the importance of employment protections because he had experienced employment discrimination as someone with epilepsy.
The ADA has been a game-changer but not without its hurdles. Since its passage, opponents have sought to water down the ADA through the courts. Disabled individuals have needed the assistance of legal advocates to assert their rights. Decades later, enforcement plays a critical role.
In 2018, Tony Coelho founded The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation at LMU to promote a new generation of leaders dedicated to preserving disability rights protections and to strategizing the advancement of those rights within the context of technological advancements.
Housed at LMU, The Coelho Center builds on Tony’s legacy at the educational institution that inspired him to pursue his own calling. From 2018-2023, The Coelho Center was located at Loyola Law School in downtown Los Angeles. In 2024, The Coelho Center was relocated to LMU’s main campus in West LA. Several offices in University Hall were renovated to accommodate the growing center.
The Coelho Center has conducted research, produced reports, and convened stakeholders from multi-disciplinary backgrounds to imagine the future of disability rights law and policy. The Coelho Center’s physical presence at LMU’s main campus and leadership in conversations has led to the expansion of disability work across the university.
The Coelho Center is both an internal and external institution, serving both the LMU community and the
community at large. Its mission is to collaborate with the regional and national disability community to cultivate leadership and advocate innovative approaches to advance the lives of people with disabilities.
Within its first six years, The Coelho Center has gained a reputation as one of the leading national disability rights organizations. Partnering with organizations and the disability community, The Coelho Center has advocated for crucial issues confronting disabled individuals such as the inaccessibility of web content. Through advocacy efforts by the center and Tony Coelho, the U.S. Department of Justice enacted ADA Title II regulations for web accessibility.
The Coelho Law Fellowship Program has put the center on the map as dedicated to increasing educational and professional pathways for disabled individuals interested in law and policy. The law fellowship has trained and mentored 15-60 college students and recent graduates each year providing programming to best position participants for successful law school and legal careers. The yearlong fellowship has welcomed students from across the nation and internationally, creating a robust alumni network of disabled law students, legal professionals, and leaders in disability rights.
“One take away from this fellowship is that the Coelho Center is dedicated to giving individuals with disabilities a much needed voice. This is achieved by meeting with leaders in the Disability Rights Movement who can educate us on our rights. We are also given the opportunity to present our ideas to national representatives and learn how to challenge those in power to do more for our community. Lastly, through collaborating with our cohort members we gain the confidence to use our voices to not only advocate for ourselves, but for all those in our local communities as well.”
— Matthew Yaniz
“What was so outstanding to me about the program was the inclusivity of all our disabilities and how they were all considered for accommodations. Consequently, that was what gave me, personally, a sense of ease to be able to focus on the course speakers and readings and not have to navigate my individual disability issues.”
— Alice Bruns
“The Coelho Center Law Fellowship allowed me to gain tremendous insight into the area of disability law. We got to hear from many accomplished guest speakers, and the program was run phenomenally by Director Katherine Perez. Best of all, I got to bond with other fellows allowing me to make lasting friendships. I have gained so much from this fellowship, particularly a vast array of professional connections.”
— Jaron Pensinger
Tony Coelho has played an active role in speaking with and mentoring each law fellowship cohort imparting his wisdom that lived experience with disability should be a source of strength in entering spaces where law and policy decisions are being made.
As one alumnus of the program stated:
This fellowship has been a truly life-changing experience for me. It has reshaped the way I see disability, the way I see myself, and the way I see my future. Very few things in my life have had so profound an impact on me. Now I have found strength in my disabilities. I have discovered my community through the friends I’ve made and people I’ve met through this fellowship. For the first time in years, I feel like I have a purpose and a path, and I no longer feel as much shame about my disabilities and how they’ve affected the trajectory of my life.
Tony Coelho’s vision for The Coelho Center will continue to make a positive impact at Loyola Marymount University, as well as nationally and internationally. Perhaps the biggest impact will be the disabled leaders it fosters who will go on to defend and expand disability rights and justice building on Tony’s legacy.
To learn more about The Coelho Center, visit the Center's website and find them on Instagram and X.
