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Stein recognized among leaders in global disability community

William & Mary Law Professor Michael Stein was among just nine international leaders to be honored as inaugural recipients of the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award.

Michael SteinThe awards were announced earlier this month by The Viscardi Center of New York, a network of non-profit organizations that provides services to children and adults with disabilities. According to their website, the awards “identify and recognize contemporary members of the global disability community who through their actions and achievements have, are or will profoundly impact the quality of life of people with disabilities.”

Stein was hailed as "one of the world's foremost experts on disability and rights,” in the Center’s announcement. The release went on to say, “[His] research is debunking stereotypes and offering innovative legal strategies and policy ideas that are regularly published in America's prestigious law journals. His work has taken him to Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam, and many other nations.Stein, a noted expert on disability law and rights, has been a member of the Law School faculty since 2000.  He is also the co-founder and executive director of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability. In addition to playing a prominent role in the drafting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Stein counsels governments on disability law and policy, represents international disability rights organizations, trains disability human rights advocates around the globe, and serves on several disability rights and research advisory boards. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University.
Earlier this year Stein was also recognized by the Obama Administration with an appointment to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. The council serves as the governing board of the museum which was established in 1980.