❑ The Cuddy Law Firm is pleased to announce that Alison Morris has been named a Senior Attorney in the Westchester Office, a direct result of Alison’s hard work and dedication to those with special needs. Six years ago, Alison began working for the Cuddy Law Firm. Through the years, Alison has become such a crucial part of our team and the fabric of what our law firm is all about. Alison’s dedication is unmatched and we are proud to call her our own. Alison’s practice includes special education advocacy, assisting families behind the scenes and participating at their children’s individualized education program (IEP) and 504 Plan meetings, and she also assists clients in navigating the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) system, including helping with OPWDD applications and ensuring appropriate services are provided. She also provides trainings, including CLEs, on topics of interest to both professionals and families on special education law, and she Co-Chairs both the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Disability Rights and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association’s Education Committee. Alison is also the very proud and dedicated older sister of an individual with special needs, which is where her passion and dedication to her practice and clients stems from. Alison is also an Adjunct Professor at Pace Law School, teaching a course entitled Law and Education. We congratulate Alison on her accomplishments and wish her nothing but success.

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Q: When and why did you become involved in the WWBA?

A: I joined the WWBA for the first time in January 2019.  I had worked up until that time in New York City, and had just started working as Director of Legal Services at Hope’s Door in Hawthorne.  I wanted to make connections with the legal community in Westchester and spread the word about the life-saving work that Hope’s Door was doing for victims of domestic violence.

Q: Which activities and positions of the WWBA have you participated in?

A: I have been Co-Chair of the Domestic Violence sub-committee since September 2020.   In this role, I along with my co-chairs Marian Genio and Beth Levy, organized a panel discussion that focused on working with domestic violence victims with disabilities and the unique challenges and barriers to obtaining help which may be exacerbated during the pandemic, entitled “Representing Domestic Violence Victims with Disabilities in the Age of Covid-19.”  I presented along with two other esteemed panelists, Jennifer DeCarli, Esq., LMSW, Assistant Commissioner for Family Justice Center and Outreach in the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENGBV), and Kathryn Carroll, Esq., an attorney whose practice focuses on inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities.  This event was a Zoom presentation held on December 10, 2020.  On May 27, 2021, I hosted another panel discussion, also sponsored by the WWBA Domestic Violence Committee, via Zoom. 

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