In Memoriam
| Publication year | 2023 |
| Pages | 68 |
Scott Charles LaBarre and Kristy Allyne Martinez
July 2, 1968-December 10, 2022
Scott C. LaBarre, a longtime disabilities advocate, died on December 10, 2022, following a short battle with cancer. He was 54. Scott lost his sight at age 10 but lived his life by the motto that he could do anything. He clerked in Washington, DC, in the office of US Representative Gerry Sikorski. He was awarded a scholastic achievement award and met President Bush. He later moved to Colorado, where he met his wife, Anahit, and acted as general counsel for the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado for five years. He launched his own law firm in 1998 in Denver, where he practiced in employment law, disability rights, and international copyright policy.
Scott was a fierce leader in the movement for disability rights and spent decades working for the blind of his generation and beyond. He chaired the ABA Commission on Disability Rights from 2004 to 2007, serving as a mentor to many young disabled lawyers and speaking frequently about the unique talents and skills disabled lawyers bring to the profession. His work with the ABA Commission on Disability Rights included proposing policies that called on the United States to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled and urged Congress to grant a private right of action to air travelers with disabilities whose rights to equal access were violated. They were adopted by the House of Delegates.
Scott was active in the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, becoming the organization's president. He also served as the National Federation of the Blind's national general counsel and chair of the Colorado Center for the Blind. He additionally served as president of the watched as much of his beloved Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Vikings as possible. He was an avid music lover and enjoyed sharing his favorites with others, and adored playing with his beloved labradoodle, Moka.
He is survived by his wife Anahit, children Alexander and Karter, brother Craig, sister-in-law Debrah, and parents Donna and Charles.
Donations in his name can be made to the Colorado Center for the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind.
Kristy Allyne Martinez
October 24, 1969-February 21, 2023
Boulder County Judge...
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