NYSDSC - Spring '23 Conference FINAL Agenda 

NYSDSC is Honored to  Announce our Spring Conference June 2023 Keynote Speaker

Paul Grossman, J.D.

Alt Text: A picture of Paul Grossman, slightly balding gray short hair, with a gray beard and mustache. Wearing a dark blue dress shirt with a tie.

Paul Grossman is a college drop-out who subsequently earned his JD, with highest honors (COIF & Law Review) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Paul had similar academic success studying Philosophy of Law at Oxford University, England. Paul is currently a member of the California Bar. Paul’s long legal career began with pursuing school desegregation in Tennessee. Since then, Paul has addressed race, sex, national origin, disability, and age discrimination in every kind of private and public educational setting.

For over 30 years, Paul served as the Chief Regional Attorney for the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in San Francisco. Paul directed OCR’s internal disability law training for over 20 years. Paul has worked on every type of education discrimination matter under Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA, including securing equal access and academic accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education.  Paul has recently retired from 22 years of teaching Disability Law at Hasting College of Law, University of CA.  Paul remains a disability policy advisor to the UC Systemwide Office of the President, the California Community College System General Counsel’s Office, the California State University conference of DSS Directors, and Stanford University. 

Paul is the Executive Counsel of AHEAD (Association of Higher Education And Disabilities) to which NYS Disability Services Council (NYSDSC) is recognized as the New York State AHEAD Affiliate. 

Paul has published an array of scholarly textbooks, book chapters, and articles on disability law, most recently with DSS Directors Jamie Axelrod and Mary Lee Vance, Law, Policies and Processes: Tools for Postsecondary Student Accommodation (AHEAD 2023).  Paul also provides consulting services to institutions of higher education (Axelrod, Grossman and Vance, Beyond the ADA).  Paul is an individual with several disabilities including dyslexia and diabetes.

Paul is a much sought-after keynote speaker at education and law conferences, including  the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), California Association for Post-Secondary Education and Disability (CAPED), UC College of Law, San Francisco, and the UC Berkeley School of Law.  

At least two of Paul’s most popular presentations will be provided at our NYSDSC Spring Conference.  In his keynote, Paul will highlight the intersectional nature and history of the battle to secure disability rights in America. In this presentation, Paul with highlight his eyewitness experience at the famous 504 Sit-In, as featured in the Netflix/Obama documentary Crip Camp.  This presentation also will include the personal insights that he gained from his friendship with the much-honored Judy Heumann.  This presentation will conclude with his own universal design practices adopted while teaching law school.  In his second presentation, Paul will provide us with his widely-followed, extensive annual update on developments in Federal postsecondary student disability law. Each presentation will include a detailed PowerPoint deck. Following both presentations, Paul will provide us with time for questions and answers. 

*To access MEMBERSHIP RATES: Please login to your account prior to attempting to register*

Registration is required to attend conference.

If paying by Check, Mail check payment to:

NYSDSC Treasurer

PO Box 74

120 Kasson Rd.

Camillus, NY 13031-0074

Please include breakdown of what the payment is for:  annual dues, conference registration for 1, 2, 3 people and the names of the members that the payment is intended. 

Embassy Suites by Hilton Destiny USA 311 Hiawatha Blvd. West Syracuse, NY  13204 or call 1-800-774-1500 

Contact the hotel directly at the link above to make lodging reservations or call 1-800-774-1500 and ask for the NYS Disability Services Council room block. Booking cost is 159.00 per night for NYSDSC members up to availability, through Monday, June 5, 2023

Optional/Alternative Hotels near by include:

Holiday Inn & Suites Syracuse Airport - Liverpool

Planning your trip to the Syracuse? Check here for recreational options. 

Please notify Nancy Carr of the need for any disability related accommodations no later than June 9th.

For alternate format materials, please email Tamara Mariotti and include "NYSDSC Conference Materials June 2023" in the email subject line no later than June 9th.