2020 marks both the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. In celebration of both of these momentous occasions, the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights and the Law School Admission Council created the following video, featuring disabled lawyers and law students, as well as law school professionals, discussing why disability diversity and inclusion is so important, and why employers should recruit, hire, retain, and advance employees with disabilities.
Why Hire Lawyers with Disabilities?
Speakers (in order of appearance):
- Chad Jerdee, Disability, Diversity, and Inclusion Advocate (Amputee)
- Belinda Dantley, Law School Diversity Staff
- Jared Allebest, Law Professional (Deaf)
- Evita Nwosu-Sylvester, Recent Law Graduate (Mild Cerebral Palsy)
- Spencer Hill, Law Professional (Visual Impairment)
- Mike Hatcher, Law Professional (Paralysis)
- Angelica Guevara, Law School Fellow (Neurodiverse)
- Amanda Pham Haines, Law Student (Depression, ADHD, PTSD)
"Stand next to, with, and for people with disabilities."
For further information, please explore our site further, and those of our partners and colleagues:
- See our other current past initiatives and programs for National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- Have your organization sign the ABA Commission on Disability Rights Pledge for Change
- Visit the Law School Admission Council's site
- Visit the website for the US Department of Labor to learn more about NDEAM
- Read a report from Accenture, Disability:IN, and the American Association of People with Disabilities that found that companies that embrace best practices for employing and supporting disabled persons in their workforce have outperformed their peers