Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi (born May 8, 1964, in Durham, North Carolina) is an American disability rights activist, public speaker, and advocate for Israel. She is the founder of the non-profit organization RespectAbility, which works to advance opportunities and fight stigma for people with disabilities. Mizrahi is also the co-founder and director of the Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund.
Early Life and Education
Mizrahi was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She developed a passion for social justice early in life, with a particular focus on marginalized communities, especially people with disabilities. Specific details about her educational background remain unverified.
Career and Advocacy
Founding of RespectAbility
In 2013, Mizrahi founded RespectAbility, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for disability rights and empowering people with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of society. RespectAbility works across several sectors, including employment, public policy, and media, with a mission to increase inclusion and opportunity for people with disabilities.
Under Mizrahi's leadership, RespectAbility has partnered with major employers, educators, and entertainment companies to promote best practices in hiring and portrayals of people with disabilities. One of the organization’s major initiatives is advocating for greater representation and authentic storytelling of disabled characters in Hollywood.
Disability and Criminal Justice Reform
Mizrahi has also been a vocal advocate for reforms in the criminal justice system, particularly regarding how people with disabilities are treated within it. She has written and spoken extensively about the over representation of people with disabilities in U.S. prisons, arguing that reforms are needed to ensure they receive adequate accommodations and support. In her work, she highlights the lack of appropriate disability services and advocates for improved mental health care and support within the justice system.
Advocacy for Israel
In addition to her work on disability rights, Mizrahi is a long-standing advocate for Israel. She has worked to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations and has been involved in philanthropic efforts that support the Jewish community and the State of Israel. Her work in this field includes writing about the importance of Israel advocacy and mobilizing support for various Jewish causes.
Publications and Thought Leadership
Mizrahi has written numerous articles on topics such as disability inclusion, philanthropy, and criminal justice reform. Her writing has appeared in prominent publications, including Forbes and The Hill, where she advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of society, from employment to entertainment. She also writes about the need for philanthropic efforts to focus on underrepresented communities, including people with disabilities, and has called for greater inclusion in faith communities.
Philanthropy
Through the Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund, Mizrahi has contributed to various causes, including disability advocacy, Jewish philanthropy, and support for Israel. The charitable fund aims to support initiatives that promote equality, inclusion, and empowerment for marginalized communities.
Personal Life
Mizrahi's advocacy work is driven by personal experiences with individuals with disabilities in her family and community. She continues to lead RespectAbility and actively participates in public discussions about the inclusion of people with disabilities.
Legacy and Impact
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi’s work has had a significant impact on disability rights in the United States. Through RespectAbility, she has influenced policy reforms, worked to change societal perceptions, and helped improve employment and media representation for people with disabilities. Her advocacy has played a crucial role in increasing awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities, both in Hollywood and beyond.
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Career
Mizrahi is a writer and co-founder of multiple organizations. She writes columns for the Huffington Post, Times of Israel, and The Mighty and has published on inclusive philanthropy in various publications. She co-founded The DCJCC Community Services Program, Laszlo & Associates, The Israel Project, and Laszlo Strategies.
In 2002, she co-founded the Israel Project and served as its president for 10 years. In 2012, she re-established Laszlo Strategies and advised clients on medical research and education.
Mizrahi’s transition from working on Israeli and Jewish issues to disability issues was widely covered in the Jewish media. She serves on the board of several organizations and co-founded RespectAbility, a disabilities-focused non-profit organization, in 2013. She is the co-author of Disability & Criminal Justice Reform: Keys to Success.
During the 2016 election, Mizrahi and RespectAbility raised disability awareness. Their publication, The RespectAbility Report, covered presidential candidates and swing races. Mizrahi has advocated for inclusion in Hollywood to reduce stigmas surrounding disability and promotes diversity for people of color with disabilities. She has published op-eds on employment for people with disabilities in more than 30 states. RespectAbility runs the National Leadership Program to advance a diverse leadership talent pool for the disability movement. However, Mizrahi has faced criticism from some within the disability community for perceived racist commentary on the 2016 election.
Recognition
The Jewish Forward has named Mizrahi as one of the 50 most influential Jews in North America three times, each time for a different body of work. In 2018 they listed her as the second most influential Jew in North America. She was also profiled in a chapter of the book Jewish Sages of Today. In June 2018, she was honoured by Sulam. In September 2019, she was named as one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by The Jerusalem Post.
During the 2018 ReelAbilities Film and Art Festival in Houston, she was presented the Bettie and Bernard Farfel Jewish Family Service Award by Jewish Family Services of Houston.
Personal life
Mizrahi is dyslexic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She did her Junior Year Abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She also has completed executive training at Harvard.

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