The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts is pleased to present a live virtual training on perspectives of blind attorneys May 20, 2021, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. to expand awareness of the experiences, capabilities, perspectives, and accommodation practices of persons with visual impairments in relation to the North Carolina state courts. Participants will leave with an understanding of types of accommodations, technological developments, and other practices to better accommodate members of the blind community as they participate in the justice system. Topics will include areas where blind persons may need accommodations, best practices for communicating with and assisting members of the blind community, and personal experiences of blind North Carolina attorneys.

• This training is approved for one hour of magistrate continuing education.
• Credit for continuing legal education (CLE) is pending.
• There is no fee to participate, but registration is required. Registration will close on May 18, so don’t delay!

PRESENTERS

• Derek Dittmar earned his law degree from Campbell Law in Raleigh and his LL.M from Nottingham-Trent University in England, where his research focused on disability-accommodating technology and constitutional law. Dittmar, who is blind, currently provides research and drafting support to North Carolina’s trial court judges as a Judicial Fellow with the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts in Raleigh. Dittmar holds a certification in accessibility core competencies from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals is accompanied by his guide dog, Howard.
   
• Elizabeth Troutman is a staff attorney at Brooks Pierce in Greensboro.
   
• Patricia Shields is a staff attorney at Hedrick Gardner in Raleigh.
   
• J. Locke Milholland, IV is a sole practitioner in Raleigh.

Register here.