Disability and Language Access Committee

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About the Committee:

The Disability and Language Access Committee works to identify and actively address barriers to disability and language access within Louisiana’s legal system. We provide the bench, bar, governmental entities, and the public with information, guidance, and recommendations to improve understanding of rights, legal needs, and available resources for individuals with disabilities and language access needs. Our mission includes raising public awareness, expanding education and training for courts, lawyers, and communities, and promoting equal access at every level of the justice system. 

Committe History:

The Legal Services for Persons with Disabilities (LSPD) Committee was established by Eastern District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey during his tenure as LSBA Bar President in 1995-1996. The Committee carried out its oroginal mission by sponsoring important trainings to help support attorneys within the practive area of disability law and law students interested in disability advocacy. During the 2025-2026 Bar Year, the LSPD Committe began meeting with the Accessibility Committee to facilitate a merger between the Committees since there was significant overlap in the Committees' membership, objectives, and projects. The Committees worked jointly to create a new, broader mission statement which encapsulates the work of both Committees. The also decided to rename the unified commitee the Disability and Language Access Committee. 

The Committee Today:

The Disability and Langugage Committee's 2026-2027 Bar Year Co-Chairs are Caitlin Morgenstern, Deputy Judicial Administrator for Court Access at the Louisiana Supreme Court, and Debra Weinberg, Director of Community Advocacy at Disability Rights Louisiana. Visit our Committee's Events page to learn about upcoming events by clicking here.

For more information about the committee and how to join, please contact ATJ Projects Counsel, Emily Belanger, at emily.belanger@lsba.org.