Burton Blatt Institute hosts research seminars with disability rights scholars from United States, Israel, Japan

The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University will host a series of seminars this month, part of the ongoing opportunities for researchers affiliated with BBI to present on research relative to their area of expertise with impact for people with disabilities. The seminars, free and open to the public, will be held in the BBI Collaboratory, located at 321 Crouse-Hinds Hall.

“Campus community members are invited to attend the seminars to learn how BBI’s partnerships with leading researchers in the United States and around the world are advancing the civic, economic and social participation of people with disabilities,” says Peter Blanck, BBI chair and University Professor. “The seminars will be an important collaborative discussion on the rights of persons with disabilities in the U.S., Israel and Japan.”

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2:30 p.m.
“Disability Cause Lawyers”
Michael Waterstone, professor of law and associate dean for research and academic centers, Loyola Law School Los Angeles

• Waterstone will discuss interviews he has conducted with lawyers who bring cases on behalf of people with disabilities, and how the research findings reinforce some disability scholarship, but challenge other aspects. Waterstone is a nationally recognized expert in disability and civil rights law. He is one of the co-authors of a leading casebook on disability law and his recent articles are in the Harvard Law Review, Notre Dame Law Review, Minnesota Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Vanderbilt Law Review and Northwestern Law Review, among others.

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 12:30 p.m.
“Research on Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities in the Israeli Parliament”
Shirley Avrami, head of Research and Information Center, The Knesset, Israel

• Having played an active role in Israel’s equal rights legislation, Avrami’s seminar will focus on the current situation concerning disability legislation and reality in Israel. She will discuss disability-related research conducted by the Knesset, the house of representatives of the State of Israel. Avrami is the author of the book “His Last Letter Remains” (in Hebrew) and many articles. Much of her research has focused on attitudes of members of the Knesset toward the enactment of the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law. The Research and Information Center is Israel’s equivalent of the Congressional Research Service, and Avrami is in the United States on an official State Department visit.

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 12:30 p.m.
“Current Situation of Disability Discrimination Act in Japan: Concept of Disabilities”
Jun Nakagawa, professor, Department of Social Policy, School of Social Welfare, Hokusei Gakuen University, Japan

• Nakagawa will discuss the current status of the Disability Discrimination Act in Japan in the course of transition of Japanese disability law and policy. He will explore what concept of disability is consistent with the new Disability Discrimination Act, as Japan implements the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He has researched for and published articles about the duty of reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities in the United States, Canada and Japan. Nakagawa was chair of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 research projects regarding “Comparative Study of Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities,” and submitted the reports to the Ministry of Cabinet Office in Japan.