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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.

Featured

Support the Commission on ABA Giving Day 2024

ABA Giving Day on Thursday, October 24th, is a day when supporters of the American Bar Association invest in its charitable programs that advance democracy, equity, and justice. This year, we hope that you’ll give to the Commission on Disability Rights, which advances the civil rights of all individuals with disabilities to secure their access, equity, inclusion, and participation in society. With your gift, the Commission can continue its critical work.

Make a Gift - Today

The History of Disability Rights: Milestones and Laws

Learn about the history of the civil rights of persons with disabilities by visiting our timeline.

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Resources

Law School Disability Programs

This first-of-its-kind online directory contains the best available information from ABA-accredited law schools concerning their disability-related programming, such as disability support services/offices, curricular and co-curricular options for disability law and disability rights, and relevant clinical programs.

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State and Local Bars: Disability and DEI Groups Directory

This Directory was created to help lawyers find information about committees, sections, etc. that focus on disabled attorneys, disability law, mental health law, and diversity in general or specific to women, LGBTQ+ people, and marginalized racial and ethnic groups.

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Planning Accessible Meetings & Events Toolkit

Are you planning a meeting or event and need to ensure that it is accessible for individuals with disabilities? This newly updated toolkit provides planners with best practices for doing so.

Access the - Updated Toolkit

All Resources

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

Policy

Resolution 607

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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Resolution 506

Resolution 506 urges national, state, local, territorial and tribal law and policy-making bodies to adopt the provisions of the Guardianship Bill of Rights, promulgated by the National Guardianship Network in 2022 and protect the right to Due Process in guardianship proceedings.

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Resolution 514

Resolution 514 urges Congress to fund fully the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at the maximum level that Congress originally authorized, which is 40 percent of a state’s excess costs for educating students with disabilities under the Act.

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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.

Events, Initiatives & Awards

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

The ABA actively participates in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign in October that celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities.

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#BeCounted: Express Your Disability Pride

The American Bar Association’s Commission on Disability Rights invites you to take part in the #BeCounted campaign, which encourages lawyers with disabilities across the country to add themselves to our U.S. map to express their disability pride.

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Pledge for Change

In furthering its commitment to diversity in the legal profession, the ABA Commission is promoting A Pledge for Change, a one-page pledge for legal employers to sign that affirms the signatory’s commitment to diversity, specifically disability diversity.

Read - The Pledge

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.

Webinars, CLEs & Publications

Working Ethically and Effectively with Attorneys and Clients with Disabilities

October 15 | Join two attorneys with disabilities as they guide you through understanding and respecting the mindset of people with disabilities, while covering essential ethics obligations, ADA requirements, and the importance of effective communication. Gain insights into key legal standards, including Model Rules 1.1, 1.4, and ABA Formal Opinion 500, to enhance your legal practice.

Register - Now

All Webinars, CLEs & Publications

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

CDR Leadership