About BBI
The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University works to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities. Named for Burton Blatt, pioneering disability rights scholar and former dean of SU’s School of Education, BBI combines research, policy, and practice to improve outcomes for people with disabilities. We have offices in Syracuse, NY and Lexington, KY.
Our Mission
Advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities worldwide.
What We Do
BBI conducts research, training, and outreach on three interconnected areas:
Economic Participation: Advancing employment, entrepreneurship, and financial well-being for people with disabilities.
Civil Rights and Disability Law: Strengthening legal protections, advancing supported decision-making, and informing disability law and policy.
Community Participation: Improving access to health, housing, and education for people with disabilities.
Our research provides the evidence to inform policy and practice, and our outreach puts that knowledge to work for people with disabilities, employers, policymakers, and communities.
Our Impact
BBI’s partnerships have produced measurable results locally, nationally, and internationally. In Central New York, we have helped more than 60 entrepreneurs with disabilities launch their own businesses. Across the country, in partnership with the National Disability Institute, we helped low-income taxpayers with disabilities receive more than $350 million in tax refunds. In Israel, BBI led unprecedented efforts for lifesaving emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
On campus, BBI collaborates with faculty and students across law, business, engineering, public affairs, information science, and other disciplines. More than 100 SU law, graduate, and undergraduate students have contributed to BBI’s work as research and project assistants.
About the BBI Logo
The award-winning logo of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University was created by students and faculty collaborators at the S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University and reflects the Institute’s enduring commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and social impact.
The logo features three dynamic universal figures in constant forward and collaborative motion, symbolizing the interconnected nature of BBI’s work across research, policy, knowledge translation, and community engagement. The Orange figure represents the insight, leadership, and nationally recognized excellence rooted in Syracuse University, BBI’s institutional home. The Blue figure represents the innovative, interdisciplinary, and evidence-based scholarship that drives BBI’s mission and research initiatives. The Green figure represents BBI’s broad impact and outreach efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive world for all individuals.