Marlene succeeds Curt Decker who retired in July after almost 40 years at the helm of NDRN. “As the founding executive director, Curt created an extraordinary organization, developing a small non-profit association into an influential and nationally recognized disability and civil rights powerhouse,” continued Rico. “As the first woman, first Latina, and first person with a disability to head NDRN, we believe Marlene is the right person to lead our network at this transformational time in the disability rights movement. We have great confidence she will take NDRN to new heights.” Read Marlene's full biography. Marlene was executive director of the Massachusetts Disability Law Center, the Protection and Advocacy agency for Massachusetts, and a member agency of NDRN. In what she calls her “most meaningful work,” she also spent many years working on child welfare and special education issues as an attorney with Disability Rights Florida, another P&A and NDRN member agency. She was appointed by President Obama to serve as the staff director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 2013 and later in positions at the Department of Justice. Most recently, Sallo served as Director of Preventing Targeted Violence at the McCain Institute for International Leadership. “People with disabilities face many challenges in our country,” said Sallo. “A pandemic that endangers the health and safety of us all but particularly people with disabilities, cuts in services, the lack of community-based care and support, and persistent, damaging stigma and low expectations are a constant threat to our vision of a society where people with disabilities have equality of opportunity and can participate fully in community life by exercising choice and self-determination. Help us spread the word. Share Marlene's video message on Twitter and Facebook. “The P&A’s vital role in advocating with and on behalf of people with disabilities has never been more important,” said Sallo. “Now, more than ever, NDRN must elevate the voices of the people we serve, amplify the important work conducted by the P&As, and fight to strengthen the laws and policies that protect the rights of people with disabilities. “It is an honor and a privilege to have been selected for this position. I very much look forward to working with NDRN’s talented staff, our dedicated Board of Directors, and all the disability rights champions who make up our Network.” | 
