Prerequisite: None

Exam Type: No Exam

Persons with intellectual disabilities the world over have faced innumerable obstacles to full and effective participation in all aspects of life. While advocates with intellectual disabilities and their allies have made remarkable strides in overcoming many of these obstacles, considerable barriers remain. Grounding ourselves in international human rights protections, this reading group will explore the ways in which current laws, policies, and programs both succeed and fail to accommodate persons with intellectual disabilities across a variety of contexts. Drawing on cases from the United States, as well as regional human rights tribunals and other nations’ courts, we will explore the extent to which evolving human and civil rights protections have enabled persons with intellectual disabilities to enjoy and exercise their rights to legal capacity, political participation, community living, employment, and more. These cases will be supplemented with opportunities to dialogue directly with advocates with lived experiences to understand their perspectives on the attitudinal, informational, and institutional barriers they routinely face when accessing their rights.

Note: This reading group will meet on the following dates: January 31, February 14, February 28, March 20, April 3, and April 17.