Burton Blatt Institute

10/20/2025

Jonathan Martinis, senior director of law and policy at BBI, published in 40 Big Ideas that shape inclusive communities Supported Decision-Making – Keeping the Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act
https://bbi.syr.edu/2025/10/martinis-big-ideas/

10/03/2025

BBI Awarded $4.6M Grant to Lead Disability Employment Center

The national center contributes to the next generation of federal and state employment policies and serves as a hub for forward-looking research, education and training.

09/11/2025

Volunteers needed for research study
Researchers at Syracuse University are looking for individuals to participate in a study to learn more about the effectiveness of services provided to jobseekers with disabilities.
Your are eligible if you:
Are 18-64 years old
Currently receive SSI or SSDI
Have access to internet via phone, tablet, or computer
Are not currently receiving benefits counseling services
Participation is voluntary
Participation involves
Completing 3 online surveys of 30 minutes each
Being assigned to one of two groups. Activities may differ by group; some participants will take part in additional sessions related to benefits counseling.
Participants will receive
A $25 e-gift card for signing up to participate
A $25 e-gift card for each online survey completed
Interested?
If you are interested or want to learn more about this opportunity, contact the Burton Blatt Institute by email at VRstudy@syr.edu

09/03/2025

New Report Prepared for Syracuse University’s Lender Center for Social Justice – Disability as a Critical Element in Exploring the Racial Wealth Gap. In this report we explore the racial wealth gap for people with disabilities in the United States. https://bbi.syr.edu/2025/09/disability-wealth-critical-element/

08/08/2025

BBI and the Southeast ADA Center have published a New Research Brief – Lingering Inequalities in the Information Age: An Examination of Disparities in Internet Access Among People with Disabilities. Read the entire brief at: https://bbi.syr.edu/2025/08/research-brief-3/

07/26/2025

Today marks 35 years since the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This is a time to recognize the strength, resilience, and contributions of the disability community in achieving passage of this historic legislation and its bold promise of a more just society for all Americans.

07/24/2025

BBI is excited to announce our newest member of our Senior Fellows team - Robin Paul Malloy, E.I. White Chair and Distinguished Professor of Law; Kauffman Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Director, Center on Property, Citizenship and Social Entrepreneurism; and Professor of Economics, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (by courtesy appointment).
https://bbi.syr.edu/2025/07/robin-paul-malloy/
provides opportunities for members of the Syracuse University community selected from different colleges and nominated by their respective deans to be Burton Blatt Fellows. The BBI Fellows program is for student and faculty participants to gain first hand experience with the interdisciplinary study and application of disability law and policy as it relates to the advancement of the social and economic independence of Americans with disabilities. Fellows participate in seminars, writing opportunities, research grants, and other activities with the BBI leadership team and staff.BBI

07/22/2025

We are only days away from the 35th Anniversary of the ADA! Kick off your celebration with this enlightening video featuring notable icons like Anjali Florber-Pratt, Eve Hill, Tony Coehlo, Judy Heumann, Lex Frieden, Peter Blanck, and Michael Morris as they discuss the importance of the ADA and its impact on the lives of people with disabilities.
https://adaanniversary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ada-anniversary-celebration-final.mp4

07/07/2025

Disability Pride Month is here! As we begin our month-long celebration about people with disabilities, we want you to know that people with disabilities have protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Disability Pride Month is different from Pride Month, which is celebrated in June. Disability Pride Month celebrates people with disabilities. Learn more about the Disability Pride Month flag and colors in this article from Good Housekeeping.

Here's what you should know about the flag's symbolism and origin.

07/02/2025

New ADA Live Episode 143: The Importance of Music in the Disability Rights Movement with Jeff Moyer, Disability Rights Activist, Musician, & Writer
In 2025, we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our guest for this special episode of ADA Live! is the troubadour of the disability rights movement, Jeff Moyer. Jeff is a musician, author, and disability rights activist. For many years, Jeff has written and performed his songs that celebrate the disability community, inclusion and equality. Jeff’s life, his words and his music have shaped many historic events in disability rights history including the occupation of the San Francisco federal building in support of Section 504 in 1977 and at the signing of the ADA in 1990. https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-143/

06/25/2025

Forbes’ first-ever Accessibility 100 highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers in the field of accessibility for people with disabilities.

Forbes’ first-ever Accessibility 100 highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers in the field of accessibility for people with disabilities.

06/04/2025

You don't want to miss the latest adalive podcast

New Episode 142: The ADA and Employment Rights for Employees with Alcohol or Substance Use Disorders
https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-142/
In the United States, 13.6 million workers or 9 percent of all employed adults have current alcohol or illicit drug use disorders, according to 2023 data from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). An almost equal number of 13.4 million workers report they are in recovery from a substance use disorder.

In this episode gain valuable information and resources on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the employment rights of people with alcohol or substance use disorders.

Our guest, Oce Harrison, currently oversees ADA Special Projects at the New England ADA Center, where she served as Project Director from 2001 to 2023. One of her passions is training and educating others about the rights of people with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder. Oce led the ADA National Network in creating the ADA, Addiction and Recovery Fact Sheet Series. Among her many publications and presentations, Oce also created an ADA and Addiction Recovery Tool Kit with the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center.