For Rico, disability law is personal
Growing up, J.J. Rico heard stories about Cesar Chavez from his mom. In college, he joined organizations that were politically active.
“And I just kind of kept going and going,” he said of his activism.
It ultimately fueled his desire to pursue a legal career to make the world a better place for his own children.
Early in his own life, his loved ones experienced discrimination due to their Mexican heritage, he said. Both his grandparents were born in the Verde Valley, but his grandmother had to repeat kindergarten because Spanish was her first language. Rico’s mother was disciplined for speaking Spanish in school, translating for another student who didn’t know any English.
Rico was also exposed to the realities of different disabilities. His grandfather used a motorized wheelchair, his uncle was diagnosed with schizophrenia and both his parents ended up on disabilityrelated leave from their jobs due to physical disabilities.
Years later, those experiences shaped his worldview and led him down the path to his current position as CEO of the Arizona Center for Disability Law, a role that would become even more personal when he became a father.
“I really feel the disability rights movement is one that, you know, has a long way still to go. But we’ve made great progress,” he said. “But there’s still work to be done, and I’m happy to be part of that.”
“I really feel the disability rights movement is one that, you know, has a long way still to go. But we’ve made great progress. But there’s still work to be done, and I’m happy to be part of that.”
J.J. Rico,
CEO of the Arizona Center for Disability Law
A journey to practicing law
No one in his family graduated from a four-year college, but with their support and encouragement, Rico was determined to further his education. Even moving to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona, he said, was a big step. There, he studied political science, and when he graduated, he stayed at the UA for law school.
“(My family) were always proud,” Rico said. “Every accomplishment was a new accomplishment, not just for me, but for the family.”
One particularly special moment, he says, was his time working for Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy while he was in law school. He moved to Washington,
D.C., and helped with the renewal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which ensures a free public education for kids with disabilities.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” he said. “I was given opportunities to brief the senator a couple of times … you’re sitting across the table and you’re, you know, 20, 21 years old. And this senator is listening to you and taking your notes.”
Rico went on to graduate law school, and shortly after, married his
college sweetheart, Jennifer, a Tucson native. He took a job with the Arizona Center for Disability Law on the condition that he could take a three-week break for his honeymoon.
When he got back, he started on his first case. The center and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had filed and won a suit against Walmart on behalf of two young deaf men who did not have access to interpreters while on the job. As part of the settlement, Walmart committed to improve their practices, and Rico was in charge of monitoring them to make sure the company was compliant.
Deaf employees were given vibrating pagers with numeric codes to notify them when notices were being sent out over the PA system. That was Rico’s introduction to employment discrimination cases.
He progressed to public accommodations and public access, including a case that required Harkins movie theaters to provide closed captioning and audio descriptions at movie theaters across Arizona.
After 20 years at the center, he became CEO in 2014.
Whether it’s as an educational outlet or as a force for legal change, “I’d really like to see the Center for Disability Law continue to grow to be that resource for people,” he said.
And that includes his own son, who has further shaped his views on working as a disability advocate.
‘Team Diego’ offers support
Rico’s family grew as his career progressed. He had been passionate about disability law for a long time, but the profession took on a new meaning with the birth of his second son, Diego.
The Ricos knew something was different from the beginning. When Diego was born prematurely, the family spent two weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, waiting for Diego’s diagnosis. Diego had difficulty eating, so the doctors fed him by placing a tube down his throat.
As parents they were scared. “With childhood disability, depending on the severity, you’re worried about survival,” he said.
But it became about much more than that when the doctors finally told Rico and his wife that Diego had cerebral palsy, among other initial diagnoses. Rico
knew from experience what Diego might face later in life. He knew there would be challenges. But he had also seen colleagues, clients and others in his life with disabilities who were successful. And he wanted his son to have those same opportunities.
He knew he’d need to advocate for Diego, and that process started right away. He was persistent with the doctors, pushing for more time to understand medical jargon and gain a better sense of their treatment plan.
Once, a doctor told Rico that he was “very well spoken,” which rubbed him the wrong way. When Rico told the doctor that he was an attorney, he found himself getting more attention.
“It was frustrating, and (what) kind of ties to my job is that not all parents have that right,” he said. “Not all parents may be able to advocate as strongly because (doctors) may not think that English (is) their first language, or (parents
may not have) an education to know that you can ask doctors questions, or demand more time or ask for a consult.”
That was just the beginning of the journey with “Team Diego,” the community of family, friends, educators, doctors and other caregivers who have helped Diego as he’s grown up. Rico says they came to realize that all developmental milestones they’d learned with their first son would be out the window and that they would need a close line of communication with therapists and special education teachers.
All of it, he says, has been a journey to celebrate. Rico says he was guarded, worried that his son would face discrimination, but he has not had many difficulties with the school districts. And they get out in community. Diego goes everywhere they go, even as far as a vacation to Australia. They just have to plan a little bit more.
“When you have a child with a disability
and they need services within a school, it’s a team,” he said. “We consider ourselves Team Diego, and it’s not just my wife and me, it’s anybody and everybody who’s come in (and) has played a part to make him who he is today.”
It’s the kind of team effort Rico hopes can be available and accessible to anyone who needs it.
Do you have an inspiring neighbor, colleague or friend you think should be featured in Faces of Arizona? Let us know by filling out this form.
Melina Walling is a general assignment reporter based in Phoenix. She is drawn to stories about interesting people, scientific discoveries, unusual creatures and the hopeful, surprising and unexpected moments of the human experience. You can contact her via email at mwalling@gannett.com or on Twitter @MelinaWalling.