News

NEW Report on Virginia SDM study by the Arc of Northern Virginia and the Burton Blatt Institute

“I learned that I have a voice in my future”: Summary, findings, and recommendations of the Virginia supported decision-making pilot project.

The Arc of Northern Virginia (The Arc) and The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University (BBI) are pleased and proud to present this report on the work, findings, and recommendations of the Virginia Supported Decision-Making Pilot Project (the Pilot Project).

This report will first provide background information and foundational research on Supported Decision-Making (SDM) as an alternative to guardianship1 and a way to increase self-determination and enhance quality of life for people with disabilities. Continue Reading

Invitation to Participate in the Inclusive Public Space research project on unequal pedestrian access to streets

Feet walkingPhysical distancing measures. Electric scooters, bikes, silent cars. Floating bus-stops, confusing or dangerous crosswalks. Blockages, low branches, slip and trip hazards. Spaces that have to be shared with vehicles or with pedestrians looking at their phones. Poor signage, lighting, noise, fumes. Roadworks. And so on!

Do you find some streets in Syracuse (New York) or Atlanta (Georgia) difficult to use?

Have you reported them?

Have you thought about bringing legal action?

Have you tried to persuade local or state government to make things better? Continue Reading

Videography Work in Syracuse and Atlanta: Invitation to Quote for Inclusive Public Space Research Project

woman looking through a go pro video cameraClosing Date: February 8, 2021

1. Background: Outline of the Research Project and the Place of Films within it

The Inclusive Public Space (IPS) Project is concerned with problems of unequal access to city streets, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities, and parents or caregivers. It aims to deepen understanding of what aspects of streets people find difficult; how well different types of law are responding to the problems; and how public awareness and concern about these problems can be increased.

The IPS project is a joint project of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University and the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. The IPS project is a five year project funded by the European Research Council Advanced Grant (Agreement No 787258).

IPS Project website: https://inclusivepublicspace.leeds.ac.uk Continue Reading

Join BBI in the Interdisciplinary Disability Dialogues – A Crip Reckoning: Reflections on the ADA@30

Tuesday, February 2, 2021
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. via Zoom
Join us in welcoming a distinguished panel of thought leaders and scholar-activists in the worlds of disability culture, education, advocacy, and innovation. When the Americans with Disabilities Act turned 30 this past July; faculty, students and staff at Syracuse University wanted to celebrate the milestone with a public event.  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic those plans had to be revised and the event will now happen by way of Zoom. “This is not a day late and a dollar short,” says University Professor Stephen Kuusisto, one of the ADA @ 30 organizers, who adds: “by taking extra time we’ve been able to focus on how diverse  the disability community really is.”

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Peter Blanck to present Live zoom session – Disability Civil War Pensions & Today’s Issues

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 / 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm, Peter Blanck will present live on zoom Disability Civil War Pensions and Today’s Issues. This event is sponsored by the Lifelong Learning Institute – NSU Florida

What can the past tell us about contemporary employment policy for veterans with disabilities? For the past decade, BBI Chairman, Dr. Peter Blanck (and his colleague Dr. Larry Logue) have conducted research on Union army veterans’ experience with disabilities and federal government benefits. Their books the Cambridge University Press Disability Law and Policy series investigates veterans’ treatment in the pension system. Join this webinar to discover the historical and contemporary views of the veterans with disabilities. Continue Reading

BBI Chairman, Peter Blanck, to Address National Conference on Representing Clients Living with Psychiatric, Intellectual, and/or Developmental Disabilities

ONLINE CLE @

brain powerThis four-part conference will discuss ways to make our justice system—from client counseling to litigation—accessible to individuals living with psychiatric, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities. This program is online only. Dr. Blanck’s is Presenting Thursday January 21st and Tuesday January 26th  Continue Reading

BBI’s Harpur and Blanck awarded Social Science Research Council Grants and Fellowships to understand how COVID-19 health surveillance impacts on ability and disability norms

Peter Blanck and Paul HarpurThe COVID-19 Pandemic is devastating the United States. As at 16 November there are over 10.6 million confirmed infections and almost a quarter of a million deaths in the US. While public health interventions are critical to saving lives, the Burton Blatt Institute has been funded to interrogate what COVID-19 health surveillance measures means for persons with disabilities and ability diversity. Continue Reading

BBI Chairman, Peter Blanck, to Address International Summit on Legal Professionals with Disabilities

1-2-3- December, 2020 It Can be Done ! : Three-Day International Summit on Legal Professionals with Disabilities

Organized by ILS Law College, Pune’s Equal Opportunity cum Enabling Cell, in collaboration with Oxford Human Rights Hub, Harvard Law School Project on Disability and Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds, UK.

Learn more at the Summit Website

Summit Brochure

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Disability in a COVID World: Employment, Communications, Physical Spaces & Mental Health

Date: Thursday – December 3, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm [Eastern] | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm [Central ] | 10:00 am – 11:30 am [Mountain] | 9:00 am – 10:30 am [Pacific]

In celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD or IDPwD) held each year around the world on December 3, a panel of diverse presenters will discuss disability in a COVID world with a focus on employment, communications, physical spaces and mental health.

This webinar is a collaboration of the Consulate General of Canada in Atlanta, Southeast ADA Center and Burton Blatt Institute of Syracuse University. Continue Reading

BBI fellow, Arie Rimmerman, Winner for 2020 Landau awards despite coronavirus pandemic

Arie RimmermanThe Mifal Hapayis national lottery has announced the winners of the Landau Science and Arts awards for the year 2020.
The awards will be given to nine scientists and artists, totaling about NIS 1.35 million, with each of the winners receiving a grant of about NIS 150,000. The award is named after Michel Landau, who was appointed the head of Mifal Hapayis in 1951, and is used to promote research, science, the arts and culture in Israel. They have been given for 19 years.  Read Full article