In celebration of Women’s History Month, Fordham Law is honoring trailblazing graduates who broke barriers and changed the legal profession.
Frances Berko ’44 was a pioneer in disability rights who served as state advocate in the New York Office of the Disabled, fought for legislation to protect the disabled against discrimination, and helped found United Cerebral Palsy. Learn more about this pathbreaking Fordham Law alumna below.
Frances Berko was an early trailblazer in disability rights. Born with ataxic cerebral palsy, she earned several advanced degrees, drafted crucial disability rights legislation, and remained a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities.
Berko left her mark at Fordham Law by serving as an editor of the Fordham Law Review, and was only 21 when she graduated in 1944.
In addition to her undergraduate degree from Hunter College—where she was the first person with cerebral palsy ever admitted—she went on to earn two master’s degrees, the first in vocational rehabilitation from New York University in 1946 and another in speech therapy from Wichita State University in 1956.
Berko put her academic background in disability-related issues to good use and worked at the Suffolk Developmental Center for several years and also served as the executive director of the Special Children’s Center.
In 1980, she was named the state advocate in the New York Office of the Disabled, working closely with former Governor Mario Cuomo during a time when many basic disability rights had not yet been enacted into law. One of her first tasks in this role was advocating for a bill that would prohibit employment discrimination against disabled people in certain businesses and would allow them to serve on juries.
Berko was also instrumental in helping found United Cerebral Palsy, which has grown to a national organization centered around providing resources and support to people with disabilities.
Fordham University named her Woman of the Year in 1993, and the Law School bestowed her with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1994.