Description

The Disability Services Committee has approximately 70 member lawyers who practice throughout the commonwealth. The committee's goal is to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to legal representation.

The committee actively reviews legal issues and legislation affecting individuals with disabilities and, when appropriate, drafts and recommends resolutions to the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors.

The committee, together with the Pennsylvania Bar Association, has been instrumental in establishing a lawyer referral panel to provide legal representation to client with disabilities in a wide array of legal matters and has established the Sign Language Interpreter Fund (SLIF). The SLIF helps to ensure communications between lawyers and their deaf or hard of hearing clients. The fund is a benefit to PBA members that helps them to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Lawyers wishing to become a member of the Disability Services Committee must be licensed members of the bar and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Committee meetings are held several times a year. If you are interested in becoming a member, please plan on attending the next meeting. For more information, contact
Melisa Spinelli, ext. 2253, at the Pennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715 or (800) 932-0311.