Her Story
About Tammera
Tammera Lawson has dedicated over 30 years to advocacy for the disability community. Her experience includes helping families navigate the special education process from preschool through college and supporting dependent adults with disabilities who live at home. She draws on a legal background that began after earning an Associates of Applied Science in Court Reporting and Paralegal Studies in 1990 from a Dallas school that no longer exists, followed by certifications in court reporting and legal administration. Lawson operated her own advocacy consulting firm for about 10 years and continues to assist with document creation, IEP meetings, and state complaints. She remains active with AHRQ and COPA. Lawson attributes her persistence to a stubborn nature sparked when her youngest child was born and credits her great-grandmother with instilling compassion, empathy, and an interest in herbalism and alternative medical approaches. She values honesty with oneself and kindness toward others while avoiding quick judgments.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tammera
01What do you attribute your success to?
Being stubborn. When my youngest was born, there were some things said by the doctors and I got mad, and it was just a switch. I had always been very hard-headed and very stubborn, but at that point it clicked and said no that's just not going to happen. I will find a way to do things. My great-grandmother is also a big influence as she is the reason I'm involved with herbalism, seniors, and alternative medical approaches, and she taught me compassion and empathy.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To the maximum extent possible, do what you enjoy. Don't get stuck in doing something just because you have to. I've been on both ends of it, doing something I didn't enjoy because we needed the income, and leaving something causing too much anxiety. You spend so much time at work, and it's not good for your body to have that many hours every single day doing something you can't stand.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is for the disability population to retain the rights that they have now, which are basic human rights. We're seeing troubling conversations comparing to what happened with Roe vs. Wade, with approaches being taken with disabilities. The opportunity is to put these attacks to bed, convince the courts and administration to leave this demographic alone as it's about money and will impact different people differently over the next 4 or 5 years.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being honest with yourself. If you can't be honest with yourself then you're just gonna stagnate. Be kind to people. Especially in my field and my hobby as an herbalist, both help people. Don't be so judgmental right off the bat because you really don't know what is going on unless you've walked in their shoes.
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