As a reserved teen, Ashley Rhea ’11 never expected to be the incoming freshman volunteering to run for SGA. But, after being elected as a Freshman Representative and joining Chi Omega sorority, nothing could stop Rhea from being as involved as possible at Birmingham-Southern College.

Since graduating, Rhea has made strides professionally and in the community by continuing to push herself into action.

With a law degree from Samford University and experience representing companies at Maynard Cooper & Gale, Rhea wanted to pursue her dream of practicing disability-related law. She quickly realized that if she wanted to live her dream, the only option was to open her own firm – so once again, Rhea took a chance and pushed herself into making a difference.

In August 2018, Rhea opened Rhea Law LLC, with the motto “Your case shouldn’t be a bigger disability than your disability.”

“I just did it,” Rhea says. “I felt like there was no reason to keep delaying. If you’re not doing what you love, then you aren’t going to have motivation to work every day.”

Before going out on her own, Rhea took the time to research and meet with solo practitioners. What she learned supported what she was already aware of from experience with her own disability: there was a serious need in the community.

“If you have been discriminated against, your case is disabling and then you have your actual, physical limitations,” Rhea says.  “I can’t take away your limitation, but I can help this disabling situation become less threatening to you.”

Rhea sees her disability as a way to connect with people and show them their options.

“Often it gets to the point where the individual can’t negotiate anymore, so sometimes they just need someone as a third party to come in with additional resources,” she says.

Rhea believes that the connections she has made through civic involvement have contributed to her firm’s success. The Rotaract Club and Junior League of Birmingham are just two ways that Rhea stays plugged into her community.

Partnering with Birmingham-area non-profits is another crucial element of Rhea’s community involvement. In order to stay up-to-date on the resources available to people in the community, she works with the Lakeshore Foundation, Disability Rights and Resources, and Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program.

Through her law firm, Rhea hopes to add one more service to the available resources for people with disabilities.

From studies at BSC in history and political science, internships during law school, and partnerships with Alabama Possible, Rhea saw that statistically, people with disabilities are the most underemployed sector in Alabama.

Children with disabilities are also affected, as they are routinely left behind and not pushed to the same level of success.

Rhea has a lot of hope for the state’s ability to improve these issues, and continues to focus beyond her career on advocacy.

“Whatever is happening now will affect future generations,” Rhea says. “I live in Vestavia, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t pay attention to what is happening in West Birmingham. If we have a strong community and metro-area, it is going to make it better for everybody.”

This story was published in the Fall/Winter 2019 issue of ’Southern, BSC’s alumni magazine.

If you have ideas for our next issue of ’Southern, please email [email protected]. We always welcome stories about outstanding people from the BSC community.