March 15, 2018

BBI Chairman Peter Blanck to address National Academies of Sciences Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence about National Study on Diversity & Inclusion

Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) Chairman & University Professor Peter Blanck will speak at the National Academies of Sciences Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington D.C. at the Keck Center. Blanck will discuss the recent American Bar Association (ABA) and BBI National Study on Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession.

In 2017, the ABA launched a first-of-its kind nationwide longitudinal study, conducted by BBI, to identify biases encountered by disabled and LGBT+ lawyers in the legal profession, and to help develop and implement strategies to ameliorate such biases. Findings from the ABA and BBI study will be used to develop strategies for more inclusiveness in the professions. Blanck’s talk presents preliminary findings from this national study, based on responses from more than 1,600 lawyers across the United States. The initial findings suggest the need for continuing efforts to promote the full and equal participation of all diverse persons, including lawyers with disabilities and who are LGBT+, in the profession.

The Aging, Disability, and Independence Forum was formed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to foster dialogue and address issues of interest and concern related to aging and disability. Its goal is to serve all individuals with respect to long-term supports and services regardless of age or disability.

About the Burton Blatt Institute

BBI reaches around the globe in its efforts to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities, with offices in Syracuse, NY, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia. BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, a pioneering disability rights scholar, to better the lives of people with disabilities. For more information about BBI, visit: https://bbi.syr.edu.