Purpose

To study the concerns of Texas lawyers with disabilities, as well as clients and members of the public, and make recommendations to the State Bar Board of Directors concerning ways in which the role of people with disabilities in Texas can be enhanced by improvement in programs and initiatives sponsored by the State Bar and to develop and promote such programs as appropriate. Meets quarterly.

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

• Legal Education - The mission is to develop, present and/or sponsor continuing legal education for the legal community that increases awareness of particular legal issues surrounding clients with mental and physical disabilities, as well as addresses concerns of lawyers who are experiencing disabilities.

• Public Education - The mission is to provide the public with information about legal issues and rights related to mental and physical disabilities. Objectives include continuing to contribute to the Public Speakers Bureau as well as the online resources page, both of which are available on the bar website.

• Conquering Disabilities Mentorship Project - The mission is to connect persons experiencing disabilities who are new to the legal profession or new to experiencing a disability to professionals who have gone before them in order to help them address all challenges associated with the experience including the failure of courts and opponents to accommodate disabilities. 

• Event  Committee- The mission of this committee is to present events to the bar and the public that explore issues faced by those experiencing disabilities.  In August at the beginning of this bar year, the Event Committee held its long-awaited Town Hall event.  The Town Hall event included a panel discussion in which stakeholders within the judicial system discussed methods for the judicial system to support those experiencing disabilities as well as a public section during which people who experience disabilities could share their stories about discrimination and failures to accommodate their disabilities that they have experienced within the judicial system. 

• Active-duty Military and Veterans Project - The mission is to study the particularized concerns of active-duty and veteran service members related to their experience with disabilities, evaluate programs and initiatives to address their concerns, and post information about available programs on the State Bar website under the DRIC committee.

Staff Contact

Ben Walter
(512) 427-1517

Chair

Daphne Silverman
(512) 975-5880