banner

A Message from USICD President Marca Bristo
 
Dear USICD Members and Colleagues,
 
It was wonderful to see many of you in Washington, DC, last week for the USICD Annual Meeting.  The afternoon's program was enriched by insightful remarks on the international disability advocacy movement from Venus Ilagan of RI,Steven Estey of DPI, and White House Special Advisor Kareem Dale.  Many of these remarks addressed the exciting efforts currently underway to support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  Cliff Missen and USICD staff educated audience members about the goals of the Global Disability Rights Library and the technology supporting the project.  Several participants approached Missen and the USICD staff with ideas for information to be included in the library.

The USICD membership also elected elected the 2010-11 Board of Directors, including two new directors: Maria Veronica Reina and Ann Cody.
 
The USICD Board and I have a vision for a USICD that brings people together across international borders to advance the cause of disability rights around the world.  Your participation in USICD activities, your willingness to share your expertise with the international disability community, and the contributions of our international colleagues in USICD dialogues, are all key to achieving this vision. 
 
We have an important year ahead of us.  We hope to see the Obama Administration complete its interagency review of the CRPD, and request the U.S. Senate for its advice and consent for ratification of the treaty.  Your continued involvement in supporting CRPD awareness, and your participation in USICD education and training programs will be vital in this upcoming phase of our advocacy to support ratification of the CRPD. 
Marca Bristo
We will keep you apprised of progress through email and the USICD website, and encourage you to participate in our national teleconferences of CRPD advocates.  We rely on your continued support through your membership.  In addition, we encourage you to support USICD by recruiting new members and by sharing your work and suggestions with us.  In particular, please do share your suggestions for ways we can enrich the value of USICD membership or build programs that fill the unique role of our organization.  The USICD Board and staff and I look forward to staying in touch with you this year.
Sincerely,
Marca Bristo
 
Photos from USICD Annual Meeting, April 26, 2010



Marca, Kareem,  David



















Kareem Dale at far left, Special Assistant to President Obama, affirmed the President's commitment to disability rights.  Dale is accompanied by USICD Board Chair Marca Bristo, middle, and USICD Executive Director David Morrissey.

voting



















USICD members vote for the 2010-2011 Board of Directors.

Visit our Annual Meeting web page to view more photos, read about the event, and access our 2010 Annual Report.

USICD Members Experience 'Music By Prudence!'


On May 6, 2010 USICD, Human Rights Watch and the World Bank welcomed the director and star of the Academy-Award winning documentary Music by Prudence for a series of screenings and discussions.  Pictured below, attendees meet the star and disability rights advocate Prudence Mabhena.  Read the full article and view more photos here.

Prudence
Join Our Mailing List