Agreement Reached with the California Lawyers Association to Increase Accessibility of Educational Programs and Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 18, 2024

Contacts:
Zainab Alkebsi, DHHBA President, admin@deafbar.org
Jessica Kennedy, DHHBA Recorder, admin@deafbar.org
Tina Pinedo, DREDF Communications Director, media@dredf.org

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association (DHHBA), represented by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), has negotiated an agreement with the California Lawyers Association (CLA) under which CLA will increase the accessibility of its educational programs and events.

As the result of the DHHBA’s advocacy, CLA has committed to providing d/Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled individuals with full and equal access to all its educational programs and events, whether live, pre-recorded, virtual or in-person, through the provision of captioning services, transcripts, and other accommodations.

Zainab Alkebsi, President of the DHHBA, said, “Our attorneys have had to overcome innumerable obstacles to get where they are. Ensuring their access to continued legal education programming is one step closer to an equitable justice system. Today we celebrate that progress; tomorrow we continue it.”

“We were pleased with how willing the CLA was to work with us to quickly address our concerns regarding the accessibility of their programming,” said Michele Uzeta, Deputy Legal Director of the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. “CLA has shown a genuine commitment to making captioning and other accommodations available to ensure the accessibility of their educational programs and events to people with disabilities. We look forward to further collaboration with them in these efforts.”

Read the full agreement here.

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The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association (DHHBA) is a volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of d/Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled attorneys, judges, law school graduates, law students, and legal professionals with all communication methods and accommodation needs. We support and encourage each other, provide advice and counsel, engage in advocacy efforts, host accessible events, educate others, conduct outreach, inspire change, and come together as an organization for the advancement of d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the legal profession.

The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), based in Berkeley, California, is a national nonprofit law and policy center dedicated to advancing and protecting the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, DREDF remains board- and staff-led by members of the communities for whom we advocate. DREDF pursues its mission through education, advocacy, and law reform efforts.