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in January 2017. Additionally, the committee hosted a CLE mini-summit event with members of
the Task Force, including chair Sec. LeBlanc, to discuss their recommendations and legislative
bills drafted in accordance with Resolution 9. In 2019, the Committee hosted a summit to
address the prevalence of mental health conditions experienced by people who come into contact
with the criminal justice system. The Committee continues to develop CLEs and cross-trainings
to educate and increase awareness on the intersection of mental illness and the criminal justice
system.

Legal Services for Persons with Disabilities (LSPD) Committee, Co-Chairs Elena Perez and
Dayna Ryan

The LSPD Committee was established to provide members of the bench, bar, and the general
public with a greater understanding and knowledge of the legal needs and rights of persons with
disabilities, to better meet the legal needs of persons with disabilities, and to increase the
knowledge that persons with disabilities have regarding their rights and resources. The
Committee has several ongoing education initiatives designed to educate members of the public
and attorneys. This includes planning a presentation on substantive law topics (i.e. social security
appeals, special needs trusts) for attorneys who do not practice disability law. This Committee
hosted a session at the Justice Community Conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act
Thirty Year Anniversary and a CLE for the Louisiana Legislature, legislative staff, and state
agency attorneys on disability rights issues during the pandemic. LSPD Committee members
co-hosted with the Children’s Law Committee a virtual skills training session with students at
Tulane University Law School where students took turns practicing hypothetical interviews with
people with disabilities. The Committee is working with Loyola University College of Law to
host a similar training in the Fall.