Biography

Barry Taylor is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Chicago Law School, where he teaches Disability Rights Law to second and third-year law students.

From 1996-2023, Barry was the Vice President for Civil Rights and Systemic Litigation at Equip for Equality. At Equip for Equality, he developed, litigated, and oversaw many individual and systemic disability discrimination cases, including successful ADA suits against the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Chicago Police Department, and the Chicago Transit Authority. He was co-counsel in eight class actions, including lead counsel in Ligas v. Eagleson, a class action on behalf of people with developmental disabilities seeking community services. Barry has given numerous presentations on the ADA across the country to people with disabilities, family members, attorneys, employers, businesses, government agencies, service providers and advocacy organizations.

Prior to coming to Equip for Equality, Barry was the AIDS Project Attorney in the Midwest Regional Office of Lambda Legal working to advance the civil rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. His caseload included a successful challenge to discriminatory inquiries by the Chicago Public Schools on teacher applications.

From 1988-1993, Barry was a litigation associate at the Chicago law firm of Peterson & Ross. He is a 1988 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, where he also received his undergraduate degree in 1985.