Marilyn E. Saviola

Leading by example, Ms. Saviola has helped countless people with disabilities to advocate for themselves. Her own self-advocacy began at a young age when she contracted polio. Residing in a hospital, her first efforts were to persuade its administration to provide the services she, and a group of young people with disabilities, needed to go out into the community and attend college. After fighting to attend college and earning a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, Ms. Saviola went on to lead a premier independent living center and advocated for accessible healthcare and the home care assistance people with disabilities need to maintain their independence. Since 2008, she has been a leading voice for ensuring preventative health services for women and created a replicable model so health professionals are properly trained and people with disabilities can receive quality medical care. Ms. Saviola co-authored a report which sparked the New York City Council to allocate public funds to make women’s health care facilities more accessible and offer more competent care.