The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University reaches around the globe in its efforts to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities. Officially launched at Syracuse University in 2005, BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, former dean of SU’s School of Education and a pioneering disability rights scholar, to better the lives of people with disabilities. With a staff of more than 60, BBI has offices in Syracuse, N.Y., Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga.
BBI’s partnerships and collaborations have led to measurable and positive impact in Central New York, across the country, and around the world. In the Syracuse region, for example, the Start-Up NY/Inclusive Entrepreneurship program has assisted more than 60 entrepreneurs with disabilities in launching their own businesses. Across the country in 2010, in partnership with the National Disability Institute, BBI assisted low-income taxpayers with disabilities in receiving more than $350 million in tax refunds. In Israel, BBI led unprecedented efforts for lifesaving emergency preparedness for Israelis with disabilities.
BBI’s impactful work seizes on Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s notion of Scholarship in Action and SU’s longstanding commitment to inclusion. On campus, BBI has built important relationships with faculty, students, and schools across the diverse disciplines of law, business, communications, public affairs, engineering, information science, visual arts, education, and human ecology. Around the world, BBI experts have created and translated new knowledge to produce solutions that enhance quality of life experiences.
An important part of our interdisciplinary approach is educating the next generation of leaders. SU law, graduate, and undergraduate students, serving as research assistants and interns, have been tremendous additions to BBI. More than 100 have made meaningful contributions to BBI. Even though BBI has had great success during our early years, our work is just beginning. In honor of our namesake, Burton Blatt, it is our mandate to continue to create innovative solutions to the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Build the premier organization to advance civic, economic, and social participation of persons with disabilities in a global society.
Create a collaborative environment—with entrepreneurial innovation and best business practices—to foster public-private dialogue. Create the capacity to transform policy, systems, and people through inclusive education, the workforce, and communities.
A global network for research, education, training, technical assistance, and outreach.
World-class interwoven centers focused on financial and technological innovation; employment and an inclusive workforce; disability, diversity, law, media, and arts, intended to:
The Burton Blatt Institute will seek an endowment of $50 million or more to allow $2.5 million annually for operations and expansion of centers.
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