by Jaime Rodriguez, RDPFS Intern
Are you a lawyer or law student who is blind or has low vision seeking a professional membership organization? Are you looking to connect with other legal professionals? If so, here are two organizations you may be interested in joining:
The National Association of Blind Lawyers (NABL), a division of the National Federation of the Blind, is a professional organization whose members are blind lawyers, legal professionals, and law students. “NABL’s mission is to provide resources, mentoring, and collective action benefiting blind legal professionals to help all blind people” live their lives freely and independently. Membership in NABL is available to lawyers for a $25 annual fee and to non-lawyers for $5 per year. If you are interested in joining or donating to the organization, visit the National Association of Blind Lawyers website, here.
The American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys (AAVIA), formerly known as the American Blind Lawyers Association, is an international non-profit membership organization consisting of attorneys who are blind or have low vision. Affiliated with the American Council for the Blind (ACB), AAVIA imparts active members with knowledge, information, resources, and shared experiences which give attorneys who are blind or have low vision the expertise to excel in their field, better assist their clients, and advocate for themselves within the legal community. Membership in AAVIA is available to attorneys and non-attorneys. Attorneys pay $40 for a one-year voting membership, $100 for three years, and $500 for a life membership. Non-attorneys may also join. Students who are blind or have low vision and are preparing to practice law can expect to pay $20 per year for membership, while any other person wishing to support the AAVIA may become an associate member for $20 annually. If you are interested in joining or supporting the AAVIA, visit the American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys website, here.
