Kate Bowden has been an attorney with Disability Rights Rhode Island since 2004.  Previously she was an associate at the law firm of Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten, LLP in Boston where she represented cities and towns.  She served as law clerk and senior law clerk to the Massachusetts Superior Court and served as law clerk to the Superior Court Justices of Rhode Island. At DRRI, Kate has successfully represented clients on a variety of legal issues including Americans with Disabilities Act litigation in federal court, eligibility assessments before the Division of Developmental Disabilities, contested civil commitment, housing discrimination, guardianship proceedings, and administrative actions before the State Board of Elections regarding accessible voting equipment and voting rights.

Kate is the lead attorney for DRRI’s voting rights grant for which she spearheads systemic advocacy, outreach, and training activities to ensure full participation in the electoral process for people with disabilities. Kate is passionate about assisting people with disabilities to know and exercise their voting rights. In her career, she has presented to municipal officials and election officials, disability advocates, and persons with disabilities and their family members on diverse topics including guardianship and alternatives to guardianship, voting rights and procedures, legislative advocacy, employment discrimination and public records/open meeting statutes.