Burton Blatt Institute receives $2.5 million to help in employment of persons with disabilities

Burton Blatt Institute receives $2.5 million to help in employment of persons with disabilitiesJune 08, 2006Jaclyn D. Grossojgrosso@law.syr.edu

The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University has received a $2.5-million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. The project, “Demand-Side Employment Placement Models,” will develop and evaluate employment demand-side models that identify the policies, practices and tools of employers that impact the successful employment of persons with disabilities.

“This project will translate the findings into practical tools for large and small businesses in different market sectors to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities,” says Peter Blanck, BBI chair and a University Professor at Syracuse University. “We anticipate being able to provide direct training to corporate executives, senior staff, human resources and hiring personnel, general counsel and others in use of emerging tools and best practices for hiring and retention of workers with disabilities.”

The new BBI initiative is an unprecedented nationwide collaboration of economists, statisticians and leading experts in law, public and disability policy, corporate culture, applied life studies, technology and education. Project leadership includes disability scholars from universities around the country, with combined decades of research, training and knowledge dissemination experience. The project builds fresh partnerships among disability policy and law experts, the business community, researchers and national disability organizations such as the National Organization on Disability and the National Council on Independent Living, according to Blanck.

“BBI’s new project provides an outstanding opportunity for law students and students from other Syracuse University schools to study and address the legal and policy barriers to employment facing persons with disabilities,” says Hannah R. Arterian, dean and professor of law.

The Burton Blatt Institute serves to foster public-private dialogue to advance civic, economic and social participation of persons with disabilities in a global society. BBI takes its name from Burton Blatt (1927-85), a pioneer in humanizing services for people with mental retardation, a staunch advocate of deinstitutionalization and a national leader in special education. Blatt was dean of the School of Education and Centennial Professor at Syracuse University, served as director of SU’s Division of Special Education and Rehabilitation, and founded the Center on Human Policy to promote a more open and accepting society for persons with disabilities.

“This one-of-a-kind grant builds on the pioneering legacy of Dr. Blatt to further the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society,” says William Myhill, BBI senior research associate and grant project director.

For more information, visit BBI online at http://bbi.syr.edu or Syracuse University College of Law online at http://law.syr.edu.