Judith Risch, J.D., Ph.D., is the Title IX & Equity Access Services Special Advisor at Grand River Solutions. Judy brings over two decades of invaluable experience from her tenure at the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education. Judy’s role at Grand River Solutions involves partnering with senior leadership in business, healthcare, government, and educational systems in areas of disability discrimination related to equity, access, and technology, ensuring best practices and compliance with federal civil rights laws, including Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Judy Risch is nationally recognized as a foremost expert in digital accessibility, having served as a senior attorney at the Department of Education, where she co-led the Office for Civil Rights National Digital Accessibility Team. Her role involved overseeing a team of attorneys and investigators across twelve regional offices, enforcing digital accessibility policies and advising educational institutions and business leaders on compliance with federal disability discrimination laws.

While at OCR, Judy provided expert technical guidance during the development of the new ADA Title II amendments that cover digital accessibility. She also contributed her expertise to updating the 2024 Section 504 Regulations regarding digital accessibility for the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Judy regularly advises and presents to educational institutions and business leaders throughout the country about how to effectively comply with federal civil rights laws, especially those that relate to disability discrimination, access, and technology.

Judy has advised senior leadership in businesses and state and local educational systems to ensure compliance and provide them with forward-looking guidance. Judy is in high demand as an expert speaker and educator on civil rights laws, presenting to organizations such as the national and state chapters of AHEAD, NACUA, EDUCAUSE, major university and community college systems, and CIO’s (Chief Information Officers) across the country.

Judy graduated from Miami University with a bachelor’s in special education and earned a law degree (JD) and a doctorate in educational administration (PhD) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.