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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.

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    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.

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    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 Undergraduate and Law Interns for the Fall 2025 Semester

    The Commission on Disability Rights offers unpaid Fall, Spring, and Summer internships for undergraduate and law students with a demonstrated commitment to disability rights. Interns will work on various Commission initiatives, activities, and programs aimed at advancing disability civil rights and fostering the inclusion of law students and lawyers with disabilities in the legal profession. Spots for the Summer 2025 internship program have been filled; the Commission is currently seeking law and undergrad interns for the Fall 2025 semester.

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    Recent News

    Jun. 04

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    Resources

    Mentorship Program for Disabled Law Students & Lawyers

    Want to gain insight into the legal profession and receive professional guidance from an experienced attorney? The mentorship program for disabled law students and recent graduates is for you.

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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 608

    Recommends the adoption of the American Bar Association Model Rule on Conditional Admissions to the Practice of Law, dated February 2025, to supplant all earlier versions of the Model Rule, and urges admissions authorities to adopt and enforce the new Model Rule to ensure the integrity of the admission process.

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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

    Disability Activist Spotlight: Theo Braddy

    Theo Braddy, executive director of the National Council on Independent Living and a Council Member of the National Council on Disability, spoke with the Commission about the independent living movement and the challenges ahead.

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    CDR Spotlights

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    Lawyer Spotlight: Deepinder Goraya

    Deepinder Goraya, Associate at McGuinness Law Group, discusses her legal victories, how her accessibility needs have evolved over the course of her career with the advent of new technologies, and how legal system and workplaces must change to achieve true inclusion.

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    Law Student Spotlight: Katerina Weitzmann

    Katerina Weitzmann discusses her diverse legal interests, what law school has been like, and the advice she would give to legal employers to foster full inclusion and belonging in the profession.

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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

    Disability and Intersectionality: Lawyers Share Their Experience

    Many people with disabilities are members of additional marginalized communities, living at the intersection of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion. These multiple identities shape their experiences and combine to create intersecting forms of oppression (e.g., ableism, sexism, racism), discrimination, and privilege. In this webinar, lawyers with disabilities with multiple identities share their experiences in the legal profession, addressing how their multiple identities have shaped their advocacy for justice and equality for all, benefited their lawyer-client relationships, created allyship with lawyers from other marginalized communities, and resulted in unique challenges and barriers in the profession.

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    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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