Roland Murphy is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Disability Chamber of Commerce (USDCC). A Retired Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy, Roland dedicated more than two decades of service to his country before retiring with disabilities of his own.

The inspiration for USDCC came from something deeply personal. Roland’s two sisters and nephew all battled Huntington’s disease—a hereditary condition with no cure. While the disease spared Roland himself, it shaped his life profoundly. As a guardian and caregiver, he watched his loved ones search for meaningful ways to remain active, connected, and productive, even as their health declined.

This experience revealed a gap: people with disabilities often want—and deserve—to stay engaged in business and community life, but existing systems rarely provide the pathways. Determined to change that, Roland began reaching out to traditional chambers of commerce across the United States, asking if they would establish a disability department to connect people with disabilities to member businesses. Out of the 35 chambers he approached, not one agreed.

So, Roland built what did not exist. He founded the United States Disability Chamber of Commerce, a national hub dedicated to empowering disabled entrepreneurs, connecting inclusive businesses, and opening doors to opportunity.

Today, USDCC has inspired other chambers to follow his lead, including:

• Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce
• Disability Chamber of Commerce Rio Grande Valley
• North Texas Chamber of Commerce
• Deaf Chamber of Commerce