Championing Justice: The Crucial Role of Pro Bono Legal Services for Disabled Adults

Mixing in some of Alsiasi’s global news and lifestyle topics, along with details on how legal issues affect human rights and social justice for people from marginalized communities, can help promote cross-cutting themes in many different facets of the justice industry. In the context of current global events and implications for disabled adults in accessing legal support, these themes of pro bono legal services for disabled adults have increased in relevance and importance. With disability rights continuing to advance around the world, there is an even greater need for legal support and assistance for disabled adults, especially in the Arab world. When disabled communities don’t have full access to justice via legal aid and pro bono services, we all lose out on their contribution to society. Exploring the rise in demand for pro bono legal services around the world is essential for understanding this recent trend, and why it is of particular importance to disabled communities specifically.

Global legal efforts for disabled adults are vital to protecting the rights of marginalized groups, as well as promoting economic growth at the national level. There are several factors contributing to this rise, such as the desire by world leaders, non-profit organizations and civil society, as well as the international community in general, to see the most vulnerable members of society protected. A major factor driving this demand is the rising need for legal supports and services in relation to pressing political matters that affect the human rights of disabled and marginalized communities. For example, we can think of the recent Israeli-Palestinian clashes over a focal water pipeline that led activists to call for protests around the world against Israel’s Apartheid regime, calling for a boycott for basic interaction, investment, or trade, until the state ends its oppressive regime of violence over the Palestinian state.

In many regions including the Arab world, people with disabilities experience continued discrimination, leading to limited access to education, employment, transport, and more. These access barriers become increasingly complex with the added layers of political struggle and conflict that often affects people with compromised mobility, or those whose rights are further compromised by economic status, ethnicity, or other identity markers. Without access to justice, people with disabilities will continue to be victims of these violations of their rights.

Policies on the availability of pro bono services around the world include lack of trained professionals on the topic, and where governments do not support the inclusion of disabled adults in their development plans – all of which puts pressure and burden on already under-resourced charities and not-for-profit organizations to offer these supports. Whether its barriers to voting, or accessing safe public transportation, disabled adults often cannot exercise their rights when the legal system fails to address their needs.

Pro bono work made a difference in the case of a special needs boy that faced discrimination when trying to enroll at the University of New England in Australia. A pro bono team took up his case and won $52,500 for the boy to go towards his antique-collecting business. This pro bono win became one that stood out amongst other ongoing cases, and similarly demonstrates the need for legal support globally. Here, we have the US-based nonprofit, Education and Employment Law, helping international clients who need legal assistance in relation to disability and gender identity.

Pro bono services have made a big difference to the lives of many individuals, such as the disabled woman who was denied access to assisted reproductive treatment (ART). After pro bono support, the woman was able to advance her ART case in order to access the medications and controls needed to successfully start a family. Disability rights advocacy movements have been continuing to rise in recent years. While the extent of disability rights knowledge varies based on age, education and other factors, the need for awareness surrounding disabled adults’ rights has become more universally recognized.

Ways to support disabled individuals in their communities include participating in awareness campaigns, volunteering or donating to disability justice nonprofits, and offering legal support when possible, through pro bono services. For more information on disability rights, you can visit this resource.