LAW 624 - Empowering Choices: Client-Centered Approach to Disability Rights Law

Disability Rights Law will give a client-focused perspective of the civil rights of disabled individuals. Where many disability advocacy organizations and disability laws focus on the “best interest” of the disabled person, this class will work from the viewpoint of person-centered choice, regardless of disability. This will serve to broaden the student perspective of disability law to include an understanding of growing trends within the disability rights advocacy community.

The class opens with a historical perspective of the disability rights movement in the United States, starting with the independent living movement of the 1960s, continuing through the passage of the Rehabilitation and Americans with Disabilities Acts, and ending with current efforts to reform service delivery and program access for disability services. The course will then transition to an examination of essential Disability Rights laws and court precedent, including causes of action and potential remedies.

Throughout the class, students will participate in mock client intakes, during which they will identify potential legal claims and discuss the application of precedent as they learn it. This will culminate in the final assessment, where students will be graded pass/fail based on a mock client intake and case analysis.

The class will expose students to a new area of civil litigation and advocacy that they were likely unfamiliar with before, broadening their employment opportunities and/or opportunities for pro-bono advocacy.

This course will not have any significant overlap with the Elder & Disability Law Clinic. There are no prerequisites.