Changing law students' ideas about dis/ability : can we? should we? how would we?

Access to the law, and effective justice for people with disability is a growing area of concern for lawyers and law teachers. In clinical legal education, where students work with real clients, working effectively and sensitively with people with disability is crucial. The founding principle in any design process of clinical legal education programs with people with disability is “nothing about us without us”. Students must also be taught specific skills when working with clients with disability, including the appropriate language to use, communication skills, and the connections between sexism, racism and stigma attached to people with disability. Reflection skills and the ability to analyse and critique the law are all essential elements of a program working with people with disability. This article explores key elements drawing on the experience of clinics in Mexico and Australia to recommend the essential elements of a clinic which works with clients with disability.