Melissa Ortiz is founder and principal of Capability Consulting, as well as a speaker, cancer survivor and thriver, and a self-described “happy patriot.” At Capability Consulting she advises on ADA-compliance, accessibility, and disability policy. She is also the founder of Compassionate Capability, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing microgrants for people to receive durable medical equipment. Ortiz is enthusiastic about driving a dialogue between people living with disabilities or chronic illness and policy makers across the political spectrum. As a compassionate conservative, she has an unusual ability to “speak purple” on all issues.

Melissa is a contributor to USA Today, The Washington Times, Washington Examiner, and has been a featured guest on the Laura Ingram show, Fox 5 News and USA 9. Melissa has served as a visiting fellow for the Independent Women’s Forum and in 2005 served as Ms. Wheelchair New York. Her passion for empowering people with disabilities inspired her to found Able Americans in 2011 where she fought daily for common sense, free market, limited government approaches to living with a disability. Able Americans was later acquired by the National Center for Public Policy Research and Melissa served in an advisory role. Through Able Americans, Melissa worked as a consultant on disability issues as related to policy development and messaging. 

She proudly served in the presidentially appointed role of Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities. Ortiz also served as the first female board member of The Conservative Caucus, one of the oldest conservative groups in existence. She holds a B.S. from Belmont University and currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband and service dog dachshund, Annie Oakley. Melissa is a ruthless board game opponent and enjoys completing the New York Times crossword puzzle in ink. Connect with her online at @DCBelleOnWheels or visit capabilityconsulting.org.