2024 DHHBA Conference Agenda
Monday, July 1
TIME
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
SESSION
Chicago Walking Tour
Embark on a captivating journey through Chicago’s vibrant Magnificent Mile led by a Chicago local! Join us as we stroll this lively avenue en route to the networking event.
* This event is weather-permitting and is an approximately one-mile walk totaling 30 minutes with additional time built in for stops.
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Rooftop Networking Event (Sponsored by Sorenson)
Elevate your networking game to new heights at our rooftop soirée, where business meets pleasure against the backdrop of the city skyline. Sip on refreshing cocktails, enjoy delicious bites, and let the panoramic views inspire riveting conversations and future partnerships.
Rooftop Networking Event sponsored by Sorenson
Monday, July 1
TIME
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
SESSION
Check-In
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
President's Welcome
Zainab Alkebsi, the DHHBA President, and Mary Smith, the American Bar Association (ABA) President, will initiate the day of conference workshops with a warm welcome to all attendees.
We are thrilled with our partnership with the ABA, as it underscores our shared commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in the legal profession. To learn more about Mary Smith, please see her bio on the ABA Website.
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Access To and Through the Legal Profession and Beyond
This discussion aims to provide comprehensive guidance for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals embarking on a legal career. It endeavors to illuminate strategies for initiating such a career on a strong foundation, while also addressing the intricate dynamics of hearing levels and access within the roles of an advocate, attorney, and judge.
The Colorado Supreme Court and Office of Continuing Legal & Judicial Education (DHHBA is incorporated in Colorado) has accredited the DHHBA Conference for 5.0 CLE General Credits for Colorado attorneys and judges who attend all four substantive sessions on July 2, 2024. Please see the “Colorado CLE” track.
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Break
Elevate your networking game to new heights at our rooftop soirée, where business meets pleasure against the backdrop of the city skyline. Sip on refreshing cocktails, enjoy delicious bites, and let the panoramic views inspire riveting conversations and future partnerships.
Rooftop Networking Event sponsored by Sorenson
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Tips & Tricks - Adapting and Overcoming in Litigations & Investigations
Although employers are obligated to make reasonable accommodations, sometimes those accommodations simply cannot cover natural case events or communications. Moreover, whether you are new to law practice or have been practicing for decades, it can be difficult to advocate in time-sensitive or foreign matters. This session will cover tips and tricks for advocating on your own behalf, such as (1) interviewing witnesses/employees, including foreign witnesses; (2) conducting zoom and in person meetings, and articulating communication issues without offense; (3) marshalling colleagues and vendors to support/advocate for you; and (4) communicating with regulators, judges, or opposing counsel.
The Colorado Supreme Court and Office of Continuing Legal & Judicial Education (DHHBA is incorporated in Colorado) has accredited the DHHBA Conference for 5.0 CLE General Credits for Colorado attorneys and judges who attend all four substantive sessions on July 2, 2024. Please see the “Colorado CLE” track.
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch (Provided)
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
National Council on Disability (NCD) Listening Session
The goal of this listening session would be for our members to share their experiences with NCD and propose ways NCD can further the access needs of deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and DeafBlind attorneys, judges, law school graduates, law students, and legal professionals.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Keynote. Finding my Place in the Sun: A Deaf Lawyer’s Journey from Nigeria to America and Comparative Analysis of Disability Rights Laws (Keynote Sponsored by Sorenson)
Join Opeoluwa Sotonwa as he shares his journey from studying law in Nigeria, where he passed the bar and practiced as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, to furthering his education and career in the United States with two additional law degrees. His academic career culminated in his defense of his dissertation titled “The Lived Experiences of Deaf Suspects during Police Interrogations: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis” for his Doctor of Law and Policy degree. Dr. Sotonwa subsequently led two different state commissions for the deaf and hard of hearing, which involved extensive legislative drafting, program administration, and policy development.
Dr. Sotonwa will highlight parts of his journey where mentorship was crucial, including his decision to sue his law school based on their decision to rescind his acceptance and when he was involved in drafting and passing the Nigerian disability rights laws.
This keynote presentation will also provide a legal comparative analysis of Nigerian and American disability rights laws. It will trace the evolution of American disability rights through the lens of two pivotal pieces of legislation: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In contrast, Nigerian disability legislation began with the Nigerians with Disability Decree of 1993 and was more recently shaped by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018. This discussion will cover the legal systems of each country and how they influenced the drafting and structure of the disability rights laws. The keynote will conclude with a call to action for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association to take forward-thinking and front-row leadership positions on the global stage.
The Colorado Supreme Court and Office of Continuing Legal & Judicial Education (DHHBA is incorporated in Colorado) has accredited the DHHBA Conference for 5.0 CLE General Credits for Colorado attorneys and judges who attend all four substantive sessions on July 2, 2024. Please see the “Colorado CLE” track.
Keynote sponsored by Sorenson
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
DHHBA Business Meeting
The DHHBA business meeting serves as a platform to provide updates on our organization’s accomplishments and delve into discussions regarding future initiatives to further our mission.
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Being Heard as a d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing Attorney: Effective Navigation of Various Paradigms for Courtroom Accommodations
Led by seasoned courtroom and accessibility attorneys, this session will cover key points essential deaf and hard of hearing lawyers advocating for their own access within the courtroom. Our comprehensive discussion encompasses:
The statutes and regulations pertinent to deaf and hard of hearing lawyers in courtroom proceedings with references to the upcoming publication of the Federal Bar Association Accessibility Toolkit for federal courts.
Best practices for requesting accommodations in the courtroom.
Best practices in communication access in a way that minimizes courtroom disruptions including through the placement of sign language interpreters, strategies for team interpreter switching with minimal disruption and the development of legal signs for specialized practice areas.
Harnessing technology to augment communication efficacy during court proceedings.
Discussion on working with interpreters and understanding their ethical boundaries in a courtroom environment.
Through the presentations and subsequent Q&A, participants will gain insights in the courtroom accessibility space and acquire actionable strategies for legal proceedings.
The Colorado Supreme Court and Office of Continuing Legal & Judicial Education (DHHBA is incorporated in Colorado) has accredited the DHHBA Conference for 5.0 CLE General Credits for Colorado attorneys and judges who attend all four substantive sessions on July 2, 2024. Please see the “Colorado CLE” track.
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Closing Remarks
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Lou Malnatti's NAD Pizzeria Fundraiser
Our in-kind donor, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), is hosting a fundraiser at Lou Malnatti’s. We hope to see you there! Promo code is: GPFUND24