 She served as Co-Director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York, as Program Director of Concepts of Independence, New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, and as liaison to the disabled community in the office of Public Advocate Mark Green.She had previously lost two races for the New York City Council.Following the resignation of former Assemblyman Steven Sanders, Friedman was a surprise choice of the Democratic Party to run to succeed him in the special election.