Draft:Lainey Feingold

Lainey Feingold is an accessibility expert, author and lawyer based in Berkeley, California. She has been a disability rights lawyer since 1992.. She is best known for her work with the Americans with Disabilities Act and specifically her work on digital accessibility and structured negotiations. Feingold wrote the book Structured negotiation : A winning alternative to lawsuits, which is now in its second edition.

Feingold has been a well respected leader in the digital accessibility space, and she is well recognized by the community. She is a public speaker who has presented at many events including Texas's celebration of the 30th anniversary of the ADA.

Career
Prior to starting her own firm in 1996, Feingold worked in both the California Public Employment Relations Board and Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. Over her career, she has become a leading expert the disability rights field.

Lainey Feingold’s Law Practice had early wins in making ATMs talk and pedestrian signals audible.

Structured Negotiations
Much of Feingold's work has focused on structured negotiations. This is an alternative dispute resolution process that allows parties to negotiate and resolve disputes without going to court. She has used this approach in numerous cases related to digital accessibility, including negotiations with Bank of America, Walmart, and Major League Baseball.

Advocacy / Education
She has been quoted and referenced extensively for the work. Much of her work is shared freely on her website, and is a common reference for those seeking insights into digital accessibility and the law.

"“The law says you have to one, not discriminate, and two, effectively communicate”"

Feingold emphasizes that accessibility is a Civil Rights issue. She has tirelessly argued that people with disabilities have the right to live and work in our society.

Awards

 * Jim Thatcher Lifetime Achievement Award
 * 2018 ICT Accessibility Testing Symposium Social Impact Award
 * Recognized as a “Legal Rebels” by the ABA Journal, the national magazine of the American Bar Association]
 * Lawyer as Problem Solver Award, American Bar Association
 * Access Award from the American Foundation for the Blind (2008)
 * California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) awards, in 2000 and 2014
 * Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the Worcester (MA) public schools

Public speaker
Feingold is a popular speaker on digital accessibility and structured negotiations. She has presented at conferences around the world and to a wide range of audiences. She has spoken at CSUN, axe-con , AccessibilityOnline , AccessU , M-Enabling and many more.