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    Commission on Disability Rights

    The Commission works to promote the ABA's commitment to justice and the rule of law for people with mental, physical, and sensory disabilities, and to promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession.

    A woman in a wheelchair leads a presentation to her colleagues.

    About Us

    Our Commissioners, Liaisons, and staff are dedicated attorneys and advocates, many of whom practice disability law or have disabilities themselves. Learn more about the Commission on Disability Rights and its history.

    Learn More - About Us

    Support Us

    Your support of the Commission on Disability Rights is greatly appreciated and will help us continue our work to promote the ABA's commitment to justice and the rule of law for persons with mental, physical, and sensory disabilities and their full and equal participation in the legal profession.

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    Featured

    Seeking Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Legal Professionals & Hiring Managers and Recruiters

    Join us in celebrating the contributions of neurodivergent legal professionals! The Commission on Disability Rights is creating a video to highlight the value of recruiting and hiring these diverse individuals. If you're a neurodivergent legal professional or a neurotypical legal professional, hiring manager, or recruiter that works with neurodivergent legal professionals, we want to hear your story! Share your experiences with us by February 7, 2025, for a chance to be featured. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and selected participants will be contacted.

    Learn More and - Apply

    Law Student Spotlight

    Lindsey Bressler discusses navigating law school with moderate hearing loss, volunteering with the Peace Corps, and her work with the National Disabled Law Students Association.

    More About CDR Spotlights

    Read - the Interview

    Recent News

    Jan. 08

    Dec. 23

    Dec. 19

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    Resources

    ABA-Accenture Summer Internship

    The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Disability Rights is pleased to partner with Accenture LLP to provide a meaningful summer internship opportunity for a limited number of highly motivated, first-year law students living with disabilities.

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    ABA-Eli Lilly and Company Summer Internship

    The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Disability Rights is pleased to partner with Eli Lilly and Company to provide a meaningful summer academic opportunity for a highly motivated, first-year law student living with a disability.

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    All Resources

    We offer many more resources for lawyers, law students, legal organizations, and other legal professionals and entities.

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    Policy

    Resolution 607

    Urges state, local, territorial, and tribal governments not to broaden their criteria for involuntary civil commitment of people with mental health disabilities as a strategy to address homelessness; and to increase funding for and access to safe and affordable housing and non-coercive community-based supports and services for people with mental health disabilities.

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    All Policy

    Read more about resolutions passed by the ABA House of Delegates for which the CDR was a sponsor or cosponsor, or which directly address issues in disability law.

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    Events, Initiatives & Awards

    What Our Pledge Signatories Are Up To

    Learn what our Pledge for Change signatories are doing to foster disability diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and society in general.

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    All Events, Initiatives & Awards

    Learn about our various initiatives and programs, including our Pledge for Change: Disability Diversity in the Legal Profession, a mentorship program for lawyers and law students with disabilities, awards for lawyers and legal employers, and more.

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    Webinars, CLEs & Publications

    How Do I Tell Them? Coming Out About Mental Illness in The Workplace

    Many people with mental illness go through the ordeal of deciding whether, when, and how to disclose to those around them. This panel addresses the practical aspects of coming out about mental illness in the workplace. It discusses the decision to come out, what reactions and stigmas doing so could lead to, and how the employee, employer, and coworkers should handle the situation.

    Watch - the Replay

    All Webinars, CLEs & Publications

    View our free webinars, Continuing Legal Education programs (CLEs), and publications. All ABA CLEs are closed captioned.

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    CDR Leadership

    Explore ABA Diversity Groups

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