Touro Law to Host Disability Rights & Inclusion Conference

Third Annual Disability Rights & Inclusion Conference to be Held at Touro Law on March 12 & 13

Hundreds of participants from 11 countries will gather at Touro Law Center at our third annual conference on disability rights and inclusion, addressing issues that touch every community, sponsored by the Jewish Law Institute.

The March 12-13 conference comes at a time when disability rights remain a pressing concern across employment, education, healthcare, and daily life. From workplace accommodations for neurodivergent employees to emergency preparedness for people with disabilities, the two-day event will tackle real-world challenges faced by millions of Americans and their families.

"We are honored to welcome distinguished speakers and panelists who are true experts in the field of disability rights," said Samuel J. Levine, Professor of Law and Director of the Jewish Law Institute at Touro Law Center, who is organizing the conference. "With hundreds already registered to attend in person and online from as many as 11 different countries, this conference represents a global commitment to advancing disability rights and inclusion."

The conference has drawn an impressive roster of speakers, including U.S. Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, and John Elder Robison, the New York Times bestselling author of "Look Me in the Eye," who will deliver keynote addresses.

More than 30 sessions will cover topics ranging from employment discrimination and self-advocacy to religious perspectives on disability and the latest assistive technologies. Attendees will hear from self-advocates, legal experts, educators, healthcare professionals, and business leaders who are working to break down barriers and create more inclusive communities.

One session will explore how major employers are modernizing recruitment to support neurodivergent workers. Another will examine disability rights in religious schools. Still others will address emergency preparedness, the role of film in changing cultural perceptions of disability, and legal strategies for advancing inclusion.

The conference has become an annual tradition that participants say leaves them feeling both informed and inspired. Since its inception, the event has built a community of advocates, legal professionals, educators, and family members committed to advancing disability rights.

"Each year, participants and attendees walk away feeling empowered from the knowledge and connected to the community," Levine said. "This conference is a continuation of that mission to create lasting change."

The conference is open to both legal professionals and community members. Those interested can attend in person at Touro Law Center's Central Islip campus or participate online via Zoom. Attorneys can earn continuing legal education credits.

Conference sponsors include Dr. Basil Guralnick Bernstein Tzedakah Fund, Walmart, Inc., Eyemmersive, Ira and Andy Raphaelson Charitable Fund, Center for Community Inclusion, HD Sunflower USA Corp, Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, TeachAbility Publishing, Touro Law's Disabled & Allied Law Students Association (DALSA), and Touro Law Review.

For more information or to register, visit www.tourolaw.edu/academics/disability-rights-conference or contact tlccle@touro.edu.