Burton Blatt Institute

Last updated
Burton Blatt Institute
Named after Burton Blatt
Established2005;19 years ago (2005) [1]
Type Disability Rights, Public policy
Location
  • 950 Irving Avenue
    Dineen Hall, Suite 446
    Syracuse University
    Syracuse, New York 13244-2130
Coordinates 43°02′11″N76°08′19″W / 43.036277°N 76.138720°W / 43.036277; -76.138720
Chairman
 Peter Blanck [2]
Parent organization
 Syracuse University
Expenses$8.9 million (2011) [3] : 39 
Staff
30 (2020) [4]
Website bbi.syr.edu

The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI), established at Syracuse University in 2005, [1] is an organization that aims to advance civic, economic, and social participation of persons with disabilities in a global society. [5] [6] Peter Blanck, a University Professor at Syracuse University, is the chairman of BBI. [2]

Contents

BBI is headquartered in Syracuse University's College of Law building to synergize research interests in civil rights laws. [4] [7] Outside of Syracuse, BBI also has offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, New York City, Lexington, and Los Angeles. [4]

History

Wordmark for the Burton Blatt Institute. Burton Blatt Institute Syracuse University wordmark.svg
Wordmark for the Burton Blatt Institute.

BBI takes its name from Burton Blatt (1927–85), a pioneer in humanizing services for people with mental retardation, a staunch advocate of deinstitutionalization, and a national leader in special education. [8] [9]

In 2004, incoming Syracuse university chancellor Nancy Cantor, during her inauguration speech, announced her intentions to create an institute serving people with disabilities. Peter Blanck and others were recruited from Law, Health Policy and Disability Center (LHPDC) to establish a cross-disciplinary research, education, and outreach institute for advancing the quality of life of persons across the spectrum of disabilities, resulting in formation of BBI in 2005. [1] [10] [3] : 5  In addition to BBI, SU houses the Center for Disability and Inclusion, the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, Center on Human Policy, Disability Studies program and Inclusive U in the School of Education. [11]

Burton Blatt

Burton Blatt was born in New York City on May 23, 1927. He graduated from New York University in 1949, and received a master's degree in education from Columbia University. He also received a doctorate from Penn State. He began his teaching career teaching children with disabilities and eventually became an associate professor and Coordinator of Special Education at New Haven State Teachers College. In 1961, Blatt became the chair of the Special Education Department at Boston University. Then in 1969 he went to Syracuse University as a professor of education and Director of the Division of Special Education and Rehabilitation.

Blatt helped found the Center of Human Policy, which was an organization involved in insuring rights of individuals with disabilities. [12] In 1976, Blatt became the dean of the Syracuse University School of Education. Outside of teaching, Blatt also consulted with federal agencies and various state departments that deal in different ways with individuals with disabilities. He also was a prominent speaker who gave lectures at universities and other institutions. He has written over 100 books and articles, [13] [14] notably Christmas in Purgatory, [15] a portrait of life in a mental institution, as well as the follow-up The Family Papers: A Return to Purgatory. [16] Blatt died in 1985 at the age of 57. [17]

Publications

Burton Blatt Institute faculty and staff also engage in significant scholarship. BBI's publications are largely available to the public, including those printed in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and in other venues. The BBI Publications page links the most recent articles as well as historical archives. BBI also produces several listservs which are available at no cost to the public, and which update subscribers on disability-related topics.

Research and projects

In 2020, The Burton Blatt Institute employed of about 30 staff (and 20 students) who worked on more than 25 projects [4] nationally and internationally. [3] : 20  [18] : 16–19  These projects include the Southeast ADA Center in Atlanta, [19] [20] disability law, [21] and research on "supported decision-making", [22] [23] and rehabilitation research. [24] The Burton Blatt Institute also hosts and sponsors the Disability Rights Bar Association (DRBA). The DRBA is a network of legal practitioners specializing in disability civil rights law. The DRBA operates a listserv for members as well as a document bank where members can access a number of resources. The DRBA also files amicus briefs cases to promote the rights of people with disabilities. [25] In 2020, the BBI helped establish the Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Rehabilitation Research and Training Center along with Harvard and Rutgers. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990</span> 1990 U.S. civil rights law

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which made discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, and other characteristics illegal, and later sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, unlike the Civil Rights Act, the ADA also requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and imposes accessibility requirements on public accommodations.

The disability rights movement is a global social movement that seeks to secure equal opportunities and equal rights for all people with disabilities.

Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, 531 U.S. 356 (2001), was a United States Supreme Court case about Congress's enforcement powers under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court decided that Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act was unconstitutional, insofar as it allowed states to be sued by private citizens for money damages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rehabilitation Act of 1973</span> United States law

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a United States federal law, codified at 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq. The principal sponsor of the bill was Rep. John Brademas (D-IN-3). The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 replaces preexisting laws to extend and revise the authorization of grants to States for vocational rehabilitation services, with special emphasis on services to those with the most severe disabilities, to expand special Federal responsibilities and research and training programs with respect to individuals with disabilities, to establish special responsibilities in the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for coordination of all programs with respect to individuals with disabilities within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and for other purposes. It created the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syracuse University College of Law</span> Law school in Syracuse, New York, US

Syracuse University College of Law (SUCOL) is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is one of only four law schools in upstate New York. Syracuse was accredited by the American Bar Association in 1923 and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools.

"The normalization principle means making available to all people with disabilities patterns of life and conditions of everyday living which are as close as possible to the regular circumstances and ways of life or society." Normalization is a rigorous theory of human services that can be applied to disability services. Normalization theory arose in the early 1970s, towards the end of the institutionalisation period in the US; it is one of the strongest and long lasting integration theories for people with severe disabilities.

Self-advocacy is the act of speaking up for oneself and one's interests. It is used as a name for civil rights movements and mutual aid networks for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The term arose in the broader civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s, and is part of the disability rights movement. Today there are self-advocacy organizations across the world.

Supported living or supportive living refers to a range of services and community living arrangements (CLAs) designed with individuals with disabilities and their families to support disabled citizens to attain or retain their independence or interdependence in their local communities. Supported living is recorded in the history of the NASDDDS, celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Community Supported Living Arrangements (CSLA) was a landmark federal multi-state demonstration to illustrate the federal role in community living in the US. Supported living is considered a core service or program of community living programs funded through federal-state-local partnerships.

Wolf Peregrin Joachim Wolfensberger, Ph.D. (1934–2011) was a German-American academic who influenced disability policy and practice through his development of North American Normalization and social role valorization (SRV). SRV extended the work of his colleague Bengt Nirje in Europe on the normalization of people with disabilities. He later extended his approach in a radical anti-deathmaking direction: he spoke about the Nazi death camps and their targeting of disabled people, and contemporary practices which contribute to deathmaking.

A group home, congregate living facility, care home, adult family home, etc., is a structured and supervised residence model that provides assisted living and medical care for those with complex health needs. Traditionally, the model has been used for children or young people who cannot live with their families or afford their own homes, people with chronic disabilities who may be adults or seniors, or people with dementia and related aged illnesses. Typically, there are no more than six residents, and there is at least one trained caregiver there 24 hours a day. In some early "model programs", a house manager, night manager, weekend activity coordinator, and four part-time skill teachers were reported. Originally, the term group home referred to homes of 8 to 16 individuals, which was a state-mandated size during deinstitutionalization. Residential nursing facilities, also included in this article, may be as large as 100 individuals in 2015, which is no longer the case in fields such as intellectual and developmental disabilities. Depending on the severity of the condition requiring one to need to live in a group home, some clients are able to attend day programs and most clients are able to live normal lifestyles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inclusion (disability rights)</span>

Inclusion, in relation to persons with disabilities, is defined as including individuals with disabilities in everyday activities and ensuring they have access to resources and opportunities in ways that are similar to their non-disabled peers. Disability rights advocates define true inclusion as results-oriented, rather than focused merely on encouragement. To this end, communities, businesses, and other groups and organizations are considered inclusive if people with disabilities do not face barriers to participation and have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Inclusive entrepreneurship is about a set of attitudes, competences and skills which allow people to turn their dreams into concrete projects or “enterprises” and then see these through to fruition. It is about more than starting an individual business. Inclusive entrepreneurship can be applied to self-employment, starting or growing micro or small enterprises and to social enterprise using business based approaches driven by social mission. Indeed, the personal qualities required for entrepreneurship are essential for success in the knowledge economy – whether this be in the private or public sectors.

Supported employment refers to service provisions wherein people with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, mental health, and traumatic brain injury, among others, are assisted with obtaining and maintaining employment. Supported employment is considered to be one form of employment in which wages are expected, together with benefits from an employer in a competitive workplace, though some versions refer to disability agency paid employment. Companies such as Skilcraft in the United States are an example of "supported employment" which is defined in law for state and federal reimbursements.

Community integration, while diversely defined, is a term encompassing the full participation of all people in community life. It has specifically referred to the integration of people with disabilities into US society from the local to the national level, and for decades was a defining agenda in countries such as Great Britain. Throughout recent decades, community integration programs have been increasingly effective in improving healthcare access for people with disabilities. They have been valued for providing a "voice for the voiceless"

Gunnar Dybwad (1909–2001) was an American professor and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, particularly developmental disabilities. He is best known for his support for the social model of disability, reframing disability accommodations as a matter of civil rights, not medical treatment. The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities gives out the Dybwad Humanitarian Award annually in his honor.

Peter David Blanck is an American academic, psychologist, and lawyer who is the University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.

Arie Rimmerman is an Israeli academic in disability policy research. As of 2018, he is the Richard Crossman Professor of Social Welfare and Social Planning at the University of Haifa, Israel and was the founder Dean of the Social Welfare and Health Sciences faculty. He has been a distinguished Professor at the Newhouse School of Public Communication, Syracuse University, and has also lectured at Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Charles University, Prague.

Maria Verónica Reina was an Argentine educational psychologist and activist who campaigned internationally for disability rights. Representing the International Disability and Development Consortium, she was a leading contributor to negotiations on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Arlene S. Kanter is an American academic, lawyer and a Bond, Schoeneck & King Distinguished Professor of Law at Syracuse University College of Law. In 2005, she was named the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence by Syracuse University. She is the founder and director of the Disability Law and Policy Program and director of the Office of International Programs.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blanck, Peter (2005). "The Burton Blatt Institute: Centers of Innovations on Disability at Syracuse University". Syracuse Law Review. 56: 205. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 Walls, Martin (8 September 2020). "Burton Blatt Institute Receives $4.3M to Lead National Center on Employment Policy for Persons With Disabilities". SU News. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Blanck, Peter (2011). "From the Chairman" (PDF). Snapshots of Impact. Syracuse, NY: BBI Syracuse University. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Burton Blatt Institute Makes Dineen Hall Its New Home". Syracuse University College of Law. July 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Chouinard, Kyle (29 November 2021). "Burton Blatt Institute makes inclusivity a top-priority". The Daily Orange . Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "Office of Research: Research Centers". Syr.edu. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  7. ↑ "New Space Promotes Synergy Between Burton Blatt Institute and College of Law". Syracuse University. December 4, 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Who Was Burton Blatt?". Burton Blatt Institute. Syracuse University. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Collections and Personal Papers: Faculty Papers: Burton Blatt". Archived from the original on November 22, 2012.
  10. ↑ Eltagouri, Marwa (4 December 2013). "Bird by Bird: Nancy Cantor, community reflect on her tenure at Syracuse University". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Grifasi, Karly (October 2, 2020). "School of Education Announces New Center on Disability and Inclusion". SU News. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Disability Studies @ Syracuse University". Syracuse University. Archived from the original on 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  13. ↑ Taylor, Steven J.; Blatt, Steven D.; Braddock, David L. (1991). In Search of the Promised Land: The Collected Papers of Burton Blatt. American Association on Mental Retardation. ISBN   978-0-940898-63-9 . Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Burton Blatt Papers An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives". Syracuse University Libraries. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  15. ↑ Blatt, Burton; Kaplan, Fred M. (1974). Christmas in Purgatory: A Photographic Essay on Mental Retardation (PDF). Syracuse, New York: Human Policy Press. ISBN   9780937540008. OCLC   183322533 . Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Blatt, Burton; Ozolins, Andrejs; McNally, Joe; Blatt, Burton (1979). The Family Papers: A Return to Purgatory. New York: Longman. ISBN   978-0-582-28154-7. OCLC   891430157 . Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Burton Blatt Biography". Mn.gov. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  18. 1 2 3 Blanck, Peter (2012). "BBI Reaches Around the Globe" (PDF). Snapshots of Impact. Syracuse, NY: BBI Syracuse University. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  19. 1 2 Wood, Lilia (26 October 2016). "Burton Blatt Institute receives major grant to aid people with disabilities". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  20. 1 2 "About: Southeast ADA Center". Adasoutheast.org. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  21. ↑ "International Programs". Bbi.syr.edu. 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  22. 1 2 Vargas, Theresa (12 October 2019). "Her case opened the way for people with disabilities to reclaim their freedom. Now, her words open a book that could help countless more". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  23. 1 2 "BBI's Jonathan Martinis and Peter Blanck's new book "Supported Decision-Making: From Justice for Jenny to Justice for All!" featured in the Washington Post". Supported Decision Making. October 12, 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  24. ↑ Sessa, Michael (8 September 2020). "SU receives $4.3 million to lead disability-inclusive employment initiative". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  25. ↑ "Welcome to the Disability Rights Bar Association | Disability Rights Bar Association". Disabilityrights-law.org. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  26. ↑ Sessa, Michael (8 September 2020). "SU receives $4.3 million to lead disability-inclusive employment initiative". The Daily Orange . Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  27. ↑ "Research Projects: Southeast ADA National Network Regional Center - Region IV". search.naric.com. National Rehabilitation Information Center (NIDILRR). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  28. ↑ "About". Jennyhatchjusticeproject.org. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  29. ↑ "About TACE - Southeast TACE". Tacesoutheast.org. 2014-04-22. Archived from the original on 2015-03-22. Retrieved 2015-05-08.

Further reading

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