Elizabeth W. Bauer (Liz) is a consultant on human rights and civil society. Over her 60-year career, she has been an advocate for legal and human rights of people with disabilities.
She first served as a speech pathologist and special educator in NJ, NY, PA, and OH. Moving to Michigan in 1975, she was a teacher consultant in Special Education and Adult Education administrator for the School District of Pontiac. She was then director of staff development and director of community placement in Michigan’s public mental health system.
In 1981, she became executive director of Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. (federally mandated rights protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities). Shortly after retiring from MPAS in 2001, she was elected to the Michigan State Board of Education for an 8-year term during which she led the State Board’s educational technology initiative, and was a member of the National Association of State Boards of Education Work Group on Career and Technical Education.
Liz has consulted in numerous states and internationally on development of public policy and services, and has often testified before Congress and state legislatures and assisted in the development of legislation and public policy related to people with disabilities. Many of her reports on human rights investigations and recommendations for systemic reforms can be read on Disability Rights International website www.disabilityrightsintl.org.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College, did graduate work in Speech Pathology at the University of Minnesota, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Education of Exceptional Children from The Ohio State University. She completed extensive post-graduate work in education administration at Wayne State University and Michigan State University.
Liz has been a member of the Futures Foundation Board since 2009 and is Treasurer of the Board. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of MORC, Inc., Chairs the Advisory Committee to the 45th District Mental Health Court, and is Treasurer of Mount Holyoke Club of Detroit and the Breckenridge Block Club.