Two Allegheny College alumni, Mark Fisher ‘08 and Lynn Leclerc (Stinson) ‘08 have made a significant impact on disability rights and air travel reform. Fisher, Director of Advocacy Engagement at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and Leclerc, Vice President of Digital at Strategic Elements, have spent the past year working together on an award-winning digital campaign aimed at improving the air travel experience for people living with disabilities.
Since joining the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 2019, Fisher, a political science major and Spanish minor, was determined to create a project where he filmed the experience of someone living with a disability to show how much of a nightmare air travel is for the community. “Air travel is the only form of transportation not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),” he says.
“Airlines routinely damage and destroy wheelchairs, passengers with a disability are injured or dropped when they need to transfer from an aisle chair into their airplane seat, and the airplane itself is not accessible. However, it’s one thing to tell lawmakers and the public how awful air travel is for this community, but it’s another thing to actually show it and force people to see it with their own eyes. I knew that would move people to act and demand reform,” Fisher says.
In 2023, when a major air travel bill was moving through Congress, Fisher teamed up with Leclerc, who majored in political science with a minor in women’s gender, and sexuality studies, to create their video messaging and launch their campaign aimed at tackling the widespread challenges faced by people with disabilities when flying.
“I’ve long admired Mark’s work in the health advocacy space, and I would tap him from time to time to see if my firm could be of any assistance,” Leclerc says. “It was the right place at the right time when Mark said they were seeking a partner for an important Accessible Air Travel campaign, and I jumped at the chance to team up with an old friend and advance a critical mission.”
The campaign raised awareness through two documentary-style videos that followed wheelchair users as they navigated air travel, providing an intimate look into the difficulties they face. Accompanied by a powerful digital advertising strategy, the campaign reached millions, amassing over 2 million video views and generating thousands of messages to Congress urging legislative change.
The results were transformative. In May, Congress passed a historic aviation bill that included comprehensive reforms to make air travel more accessible for individuals with disabilities—the most significant advancement in nearly 40 years. Fisher and Leclerc’s campaign played a crucial role in this achievement, amplifying public awareness and mobilizing support that directly influenced the passage of the bill.
Their efforts were recognized by the Public Affairs Council, which honored the campaign with its prestigious Innovation Award for exceptional advocacy work. Beyond the accolades, the campaign received widespread press coverage, further propelling the issue of disability access in air travel to the forefront of public and legislative discussions.
Fisher says it was “One of the proudest moments of my career. I remember that after attending my first Public Affairs Council conference over 10 years ago, I told my supervisor at that time that I wanted to work on a campaign that would win this award at some point in my career. To achieve that by leading this powerful campaign that will improve the life of so many people is awesome. Finally, to work with a friend and fellow Allegheny alumnus on this campaign for over a year was just icing on the cake. It was truly a partnership between Lynn and I, plus our two organizations, and having the campaign recognized by our peers this way is something I will never forget.”
Fisher and Leclerc’s shared history extends back to their days at Allegheny College, where they served as Student Government Senators. Sixteen years later, they find themselves influencing actual U.S. Senators on life-changing legislation. Reflecting on their journey from Allegheny’s campus to Capitol Hill, the pair noted how their Allegheny experience fostered the skills and passion they now bring to their professional advocacy roles.
“Taking on leadership roles in student government (Senator and then Class Treasurer) and my sorority (Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Marshal), I learned to balance priorities, collaborate with others, and become increasingly comfortable with public speaking,” Leclerc says, adding that her major and minor combination also played a crucial role in her career trajectory.
“My women’s studies minor, as well as the diverse curriculum of a liberal arts college, provided me with a deep perspective that spanned multiple subject areas and taught me the importance of never being one dimensional. Learning about different experiences and engaging your brain in different ways (like taking a random Calculus class) makes for a well-rounded professional that can pivot to whatever challenge comes your way,” Leclerc says.
As they continue to champion disability rights, Fisher and Leclerc are living proof of the far-reaching impact Allegheny alumni can have on the world.
“The aspect of my career that I find the most rewarding is empowering individuals to use their voice in order to make change for them, their family members, or for people in their community,” Fisher says. “I know people are skeptical about whether their lawmakers want to hear from the people they represent, but…your voice matters, and when I see volunteers speaking up on issues they care about, it is truly amazing.”
Check out Leclerc and Fisher’s campaign video content here:
