Marca Bristo

Marca Bristo serves as the President and CEO of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago; she is also currently the board president of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD). As a national disability leader, Bristo is well versed on a wide variety of issues that affect the daily lives and civil rights of people with disabilities, from education to transportation to freedom from institutions. Bristo embraces the international human rights framework and continues to be one of the nation’s leading advocates for U.S. engagement with the international community on disability rights. As the former chair of the National Council on Disability, her purview was wide and her commitment to fulfilling this role set the bar high for all succeeding chairs. Bristo is known as a true advocate who will not compromise her values, vision and message. This authentic voice and honest dealing approach has earned the esteem of her colleagues and peers in the movement.