In August 2022, Counsel Michael Sabella’s “Best Practices to Address Disability Inclusion in the Legal Profession” was published in the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. Only about 1% of lawyers identify as having a disability – a “staggeringly low” number, considering some 61 million adults in the U.S. have a disability, he writes.
Sabella believes attorneys don’t self-identify as having a physical or mental disability, possibly because they fear discrimination or ridicule. Sabella outlines actions law firms can take to encourage people to identify as their “authentic” or “complete” selves, which can foster an inclusive culture and provide a resource for others with disabilities.
Disabilities include heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and PTSD, as well as more readily apparent impairments. By nature, he says, people with disabilities are often creative and innovative, adept at problem-solving.
Read the article (reprinted with permission).