Home History & Activity Online Resources
Videos Mentoring Law Students Courtroom Accessibility Guide

Disability Rights and Issues

Created in 1992

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.

2021-2022 Projects and Objectives

To inform current Texas law students on reasonable accommodations in the classroom and on examinations.
To facilitate the creation of a coalition of lawyers to assist other lawyers who need reasonable accommodations in the courtroom.
To inform lawyers on mental health and self-care.
To inform members of the Texas general public on courtroom access.

Chair
Sashikala Nisankarao
Pearland

Staff Contact
Miranda Sewell
Committees Coordinator
(512) 427-1516

2021-2022 Committee Members

Name	Company	City
Sashikala Nisankarao (CHAIR)		Pearland
Daphne Silverman (VICE CHAIR)		Austin
Douglas Bryant	Staff Attorney Texas Medical Board	Austin
Heather Carson	Carson Law Firm, PLLC	Houston
Kevin Garrett	Texas Jail Project	Austin
Janine Beth Howard Gorell		Lubbock
Robert Goss	Law Office of Robert B. Goss, PC	Houston
Richard Hunt	Hunt Huey PLLC	Dallas
M. Sue Kurita		El Paso
Carey Thompson	The Law Office of Carey Thompson, PC	Fort Worth
Sandra Foreman		Cedar Park
Dorene Philpot	Philpot Law Office PLLC	Galveston
Derick Smith	Harris County Public Defender's Office	Katy
Dominique L. Augustus		Round Rock
Brandon Francis	Herd Law Firm, PLLC	Houston
Gary Manuele	Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center	Harker Hts
Robin Orlowski		Austin
Randi Turner	Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities	Austin
Tobias Cole (Advisory)	The Cole Law Firm	Houston
Sean Pevsner (Advisory)	Whitburn & Pevsner, PLLC	Arlington