Ellen Saideman, J.D.

Ellen Saideman, J.D.

Ellen Saideman has represented people with disabilities for more than twenty years. She first became involved in disability issues as Deputy Director of the Equal Employment and Public Accommodation Division of the New York City Human Rights Commission. She then worked as a staff attorney and later as Director of the Disability Law Center of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. There, she was lead counsel in Jean D. v. Cuomo, which challenged the denial of fresh air and exercise to patients at state psychiatric centers.

Ms. Saideman moved to Miami in 1993, and she worked first as a staff attorney and then as a consultant for the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities (now Disability Rights Florida). She was co-lead counsel in Brown v. Bush, which led to the closure of two state institutions for people with disabilities.

She is now a solo practitioner in Rhode Island, focusing primarily on disability rights, education law, health law, and employment law. In addition, she is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Writing at Roger Williams University School of Law. Recently, Ms. Saideman assisted the National Center for Law and Economic Justice and the Rhode Island ACLU on a lawsuit to require Rhode Island to process food stamp applications in a timely manner.