American Bar Association President Mary Smith Opens 2024 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association Conference

D/deaf and hard of hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled judges, attorneys, law school graduates, paralegals, law students, and other legal professionals from across the country and in Canada gathered for professional development and networking opportunities. Topics of panel discussions included how to embark on a legal career as a d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing person, how to advocate for one’s own accommodations in the workplace, and how to navigate courtroom accommodations. Additionally, DHHBA presented four awards to John Wyvill, Taye Akinola, Anat Maytal, and Rachel Arfa, all of them legal professionals from within the d/Deaf and hard of hearing community. They were recognized for their talents, achievements, and contributions to the profession. The goal of the awards is to inspire a more diverse and representative legal community.

ABA President Smith stated that she values the ABA’s partnership with the national affinity bar representing deaf and hard of hearing attorneys. She invited attendees to join the ABA to share their unique voices, experiences, and perspectives. She closed her remarks with: “I want to make a personal pitch to all of you: The ABA needs you! We need your voice and your vision. You are an integral part of the legal profession, and it has been an honor to be here today.”

DHHBA President Alkebsi, who is also Policy Counsel for the National Association of the Deaf, thanked President Smith for her appearance, stating: “It was truly an honor to have President Mary Smith give such thoughtful remarks at the DHHBA Conference. We appreciate ABA's support of DHHBA's mission to elevate d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the legal profession and applaud ABA's commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion.”