HARRISBURG, Pa. (April 25, 2023) — The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Disability Services Committee will receive the 2023 Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the PBA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team. The award will be presented at an awards ceremony during the PBA Annual Meeting May 3-5 in Philadelphia.
The PBA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team works collaboratively with PBA leadership, staff and all other PBA-related groups and entities to promote and enhance existing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and to assist with creating new opportunities. The award recognizes a PBA entity for outstanding efforts, contributions or service to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the association’s membership and for demonstrating commitment to and leadership in promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession.
The Disability Services Committee was selected for this year’s award in recognition of its two-part continuing legal education series, Hot Topics in Disability Accommodations Law. Both sessions highlighted recent efforts by government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice Disability Rights Section and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Civil Rights Enforcement Section, to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities under the applicable federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities (ADA).
The program supports the PBA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategic plan by: promoting knowledge of laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities, educating about programs and resources available for individuals and attorneys who practice in this area, and shing a light on issues related to access to the courts and requesting accommodations.
The series assists attorneys with disabilities and attorneys who serve individuals with disabilities.
Part one of the series, Hot Topics in Disability Accommodations Law, provides a general overview of current efforts focusing on recent court interpretations of the law, programs and initiatives for individuals with disabilities, and resources for attorneys who practice in this field and their clients. It was recorded in July 2022 and is available to purchase on-demand.
Part two of the series, Hot Topics in Disability Accommodations Law: Access to the Courthouse, offers an overview of efforts to provide access to the courts for individuals with disabilities, and a step-by-step process on how a court user can request an ADA accommodation in Pennsylvania’s courts. It was recorded in March 2023 and is available to purchase on-demand.
The Disability Services Committee institutes statewide programs to educate both lawyers and the public about issues regarding the legal rights of individuals with disabilities. The committee studies and makes recommendations concerning all legislation or rulemaking pertaining to people with mental or physical challenges. The committee's goal is to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to legal representation.
For more information on the PBA Annual Meeting, visit https://www.pabar.org/pdf/2023/AnnualMeeting2023.pdf.