Jennifer Mathis, J.D., M.A.

Jennifer Mathis is Deputy Director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. She has worked at the Center since 1999 except for two periods of federal government service. Between December 2021 and January 2025, Jennifer served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, supervising the disability rights work among other functions. Jennifer uses litigation as well as policy advocacy to promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities in all areas of life, including community living, health care, housing, employment, education, parental and family rights, voting, and other areas. She played a key role in coordinating strategy and briefing when the Olmstead case was heard by the Supreme Court. Jennifer served on the disability community negotiating team that worked with business community representatives to craft language that became the ADA Amendments Act and played a lead role in securing passage of the ADAAA. Between 2010 and 2011, Jennifer served as Special Assistant to Commissioner Chai Feldblum at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, helping to draft regulations implementing the ADA Amendments Act and the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act.