American Bar Association
October marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” recognizes the vital contributions of workers with disabilities across every sector of society — including the legal profession.
The American Bar Association recognizes the perspectives, talents and experiences that lawyers and judges with disabilities bring to the legal system. “Creating a more diverse and inclusive profession is one of the ABA’s core goals, and finding ways to be more inclusive of people with disabilities is an important part of this effort,” said ABA President Michelle A. Behnke.
Lawyers with disabilities strengthen the profession with unique skills shaped by their lived experience. “Navigating barriers makes us resilient, creative, better problem solvers and more empathetic — all qualities that benefit colleagues, clients and the justice system,” said attorney Ralph F. Antonioli of Antonioli Global Law Firm in Gaithersburg, Maryland. They also ensure that the profession reflects the diversity of the clients it serves.
Chris Davis, a trial attorney and shareholder/director with Crowe Dunlevy who uses a wheelchair due to paraplegia, agreed. “The profession is elevated by these lawyers who daily demonstrate character and zeal — facing daily struggles with grace and often wit, keeping perspective, and not sweating the small stuff,” he said.
For Ericka Dorsey, an attorney for the American Federation of Government Employees, being open about her disability has made her a more effective advocate for clients navigating accommodations in the federal workplace. “Once clients know that I have a disability, they are more forthcoming about the barriers they encounter,” she explained. “They know I will not see them as unable to perform their job or as ‘lazy.’ Being ‘out’ about my disability helps normalize accommodations — not only in my workplace, but also in the organizations I encounter professionally. Opposing attorneys no longer blink when I ask for an accommodation.”
Accessibility and inclusion are essential for creating workplaces where all lawyers can thrive. “An accessible workplace culture fosters the success of lawyers with disabilities, who are often the most overlooked talent pool,” said Davis. “Employers that commit to policies ensuring a level playing field will attract and nurture talent from people who know something about life.”
Attorney and advocate Haley Moss of Haley Moss LLC emphasized that accessibility benefits everyone. “Good policy makes it possible for everyone — parents, older individuals, people with disabilities — to succeed and participate fully,” she said.
In honor of NDEAM, Sean Deskins, chair of the ABA Commission on Disability Rights (CDR), invites legal employers to join its Pledge for Change: Disability Diversity in the Workplace, a commitment to increasing disability inclusion across the legal profession. CDR also encourages lawyers, law students and judges with disabilities to participate in #BeCounted, a campaign empowering individuals to express disability pride by anonymously adding themselves to a U.S. map created for the initiative — helping to normalize self-identification and reduce stigma.
(https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archiv es/2025/09/aba-recognizes-legal-professionals-with-disabilities/)
October marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” recognizes the vital contributions of workers with disabilities across every sector of society — including the legal profession.
The American Bar Association recognizes the perspectives, talents and experiences that lawyers and judges with disabilities bring to the legal system. “Creating a more diverse and inclusive profession is one of the ABA’s core goals, and finding ways to be more inclusive of people with disabilities is an important part of this effort,” said ABA President Michelle A. Behnke.
Lawyers with disabilities strengthen the profession with unique skills shaped by their lived experience. “Navigating barriers makes us resilient, creative, better problem solvers and more empathetic — all qualities that benefit colleagues, clients and the justice system,” said attorney Ralph F. Antonioli of Antonioli Global Law Firm in Gaithersburg, Maryland. They also ensure that the profession reflects the diversity of the clients it serves.
Chris Davis, a trial attorney and shareholder/director with Crowe Dunlevy who uses a wheelchair due to paraplegia, agreed. “The profession is elevated by these lawyers who daily demonstrate character and zeal — facing daily struggles with grace and often wit, keeping perspective, and not sweating the small stuff,” he said.
For Ericka Dorsey, an attorney for the American Federation of Government Employees, being open about her disability has made her a more effective advocate for clients navigating accommodations in the federal workplace. “Once clients know that I have a disability, they are more forthcoming about the barriers they encounter,” she explained. “They know I will not see them as unable to perform their job or as ‘lazy.’ Being ‘out’ about my disability helps normalize accommodations — not only in my workplace, but also in the organizations I encounter professionally. Opposing attorneys no longer blink when I ask for an accommodation.”
Accessibility and inclusion are essential for creating workplaces where all lawyers can thrive. “An accessible workplace culture fosters the success of lawyers with disabilities, who are often the most overlooked talent pool,” said Davis. “Employers that commit to policies ensuring a level playing field will attract and nurture talent from people who know something about life.”
Attorney and advocate Haley Moss of Haley Moss LLC emphasized that accessibility benefits everyone. “Good policy makes it possible for everyone — parents, older individuals, people with disabilities — to succeed and participate fully,” she said.
In honor of NDEAM, Sean Deskins, chair of the ABA Commission on Disability Rights (CDR), invites legal employers to join its Pledge for Change: Disability Diversity in the Workplace, a commitment to increasing disability inclusion across the legal profession. CDR also encourages lawyers, law students and judges with disabilities to participate in #BeCounted, a campaign empowering individuals to express disability pride by anonymously adding themselves to a U.S. map created for the initiative — helping to normalize self-identification and reduce stigma.
(https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archiv es/2025/09/aba-recognizes-legal-professionals-with-disabilities/)
