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About Us
Washington Civil & Disability Advocate ("WACDA") is a Seattle-based disability rights and civil rights nonprofit organization. WACDA is guided by the simple but powerful proposition that all people have equal dignity and worth.
As a result, the organization is committed to providing legal services to people with disabilities regardless of ability to pay. WACDA is committed to a multifaceted approach to increasing accessibility and inclusion in Washington state and beyond. In addition to systemic accessibility-focused litigation, WACDA assists with disability education and awareness efforts, including informing the disability community on disability rights and effective self-advocacy. WACDA also provides targeted legislative and community advocacy in order to help inform the business community and elected officials on disability best practices and the majority opinions of the disability community on important policy issues.
WACDA was founded in 2016 by Conrad Reynoldson to ensure individuals with disabilities a low-cost avenue to protect their civil rights. WACDA was established as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization in January 2017.
Meet the Team
Conrad Reynoldson
Conrad Reynoldson is a power chair using attorney who earned a law degree from the University of Washington after graduating summa cum laude from Seattle Pacific University. He is a Blackstone Legal Fellow and is admitted to practice in front of the Ninth Circuit, as well as in Washington State and Federally in the Western and Eastern Districts. Conrad received a DO-IT Trailblazer award in 2012, the Carlson-Parker Award from Pacific Justice Institute in 2016, the Ron Adams Outstanding Advocate Award from the Northwest Access Fund in 2017, and the Public Service & Leadership Award, Young Lawyers Committee of Washington State Bar Association in 2018. Conrad founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit disability rights law firm in Seattle named Washington Civil & Disability Advocate in 2017 to advocate for the disability community in Washington state and beyond through systemic litigation, education, and legislative advocacy. Conrad currently also serves as a Commissioner on the Washington Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights and is an at large board member of the Washington Attorneys with Disabilities Association.
So-Young Jeong (she/her/hers) is a Legal Intern at WACDA and a 2L at the Seattle University School of Law. She got her B.A. in Biochemistry at the University of Washington. So-Young is passionate about disability rights work, especially the rights of youths with disabilities in education. Outside of work and academics, So-Young spends time baking and running.
Marielle Maxwell
Marielle Maxwell is an Associate Attorney at WACDA. She attended college at Washington State
University where she majored in Psychology with a minor in Political Science. She then went on to
graduate from the University of Washington School of Law in 2018 and was admitted to the bar in 2019.
She has a strong belief that every person should be treated equitably under the law, regardless of their
characteristics. When not working, Marielle enjoys working on transformative art, playing Dungeons and
Dragons, and enjoying the outdoors.
Mingyue Zhou (she/her/hers) is a Legal Intern at WACDA. She got her Master of Laws degree at the University of Washington and Bachelor of Laws degree at Shenzhen University. After two years of voluntary work, she has become aware of the lack of legal service for laborers and individuals with disabilities and thus wants to make a difference. In her spare time, Mingyue enjoys dancing, baking, and doing outdoor exercises like hiking.
Sarah Nally is a Legal Intern at WACDA and a 2L at Gonzaga University School of Law. She got her Bachelor of Sciences degree in History & Social Sciences Education at Illinois State University and taught high school Social Studies before pursuing her J.D. Through teaching, Sarah became aware of the difficulties both teachers and students with special needs face when trying to ensure equal access to a high-quality education and hopes to make positive changes to ensure teachers are better equipped to provide the best education to all students. Outside of work, Sarah likes to make art, cook, and spend time outside with her family.
James McLean (he/him/his) is a Legal Intern at WACDA and a 2L at the University of
Washington School of Law. He received his B.A. in political science summa cum laude from the
University of Alaska, Fairbanks. James then went to law school with the intent of working in
public interest law. He is particularly interested in the rights of workers with disabilities and
incarcerated people with disabilities. In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, and
experiencing all Seattle has to offer.