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Fish & Richardson Forms New Affinity Group for Persons with Disabilities

Fish & Richardson has formed a new affinity group for persons with disabilities. ENABLED (Empowering, Normalizing, And Backing Legal Employees with Disabilities) is open to all Fish employees who have disabilities, as well as those who care for family members with disabilities.

ENABLED is chaired by Principal Michael Autuoro and Associate Brianna Chamberlin. The mission of the group is to:

  • Empower and eliminate stigma, including increasing awareness of the contributions persons with disabilities make to the diversity of our practice and the legal profession as a whole
  • Foster connections and a sense of belonging within the firm
  • Advocate for an accessible and supportive workplace and serve as a resource for firm leadership regarding disability issues
  • Recruit, develop, and retain employees with disabilities
  • Cultivate a safe space to provide peer-to-peer support regarding disability issues

“Historically, Fish has been a welcoming and inclusive place for attorneys, staff, and law students who are differently-abled,” said ENABLED co-chair Michael Autuoro. “However, the creation of ENABLED codifies Fish’s commitment to actively improving our support for individuals with disabilities to realize their full and equal participation in the legal field. I look forward to spearheading initiatives with co-chair Brianna Chamberlin that will advance our causes and augment our inclusive culture.”

ENABLED is the ninth affinity group at Fish, joining ranks with the Allyship Group, Military and Veteran Group, and EMPOWER Women’s Initiative, among others.

“Affinity groups play an important role at Fish by fostering a supportive network and creating a shared community for members,” said Director of Diversity & Inclusion Whitney Smallwood. “Affinity groups also educate firm colleagues about their shared history and matters of importance to the community at large. I’m thrilled to support the creation of ENABLED and look forward to the positive influence they will impart on our firm culture.”