On Thursday, June 9, 2011 the World Report on Disability was released in New York. The numbers were staggering. Over 1 billion people worldwide are believed to have disabilities, a full 15% of the world population. In 1970, the estimate was 10%. The increase is credited to improved reporting and information gathering techniques, as well as an aging population and an increase in chronic diseases.

But perhaps more significant than the new statistics is the report's emphasis on identifying physical, financial and attitudinal barriers that people with disabilities face, and offering best practices from around the world on how to overcome those barriers. It does an extensive job of identifying access to healthcare, rehabilitation, support and assistive services, education, and employment, as key issues that all countries must address.

USICD Executive Director was in New York for the Launch, and posted a blog post on his reactions to the report and the event on USICD's blog at:

 http://usicd.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/who-world-report-on-disability/

 Read the full report on  the WHO website at: http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/en/index.html

USICD's education campaign supporting the Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) continues to reach new audiences and spread awareness of the treaty.   

Last month, Executive Director David Morrissey travelled out to Kansas University where he presented two CRPD workshops, one to general faculty and students and the other to a research group at the Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTCIL) led by Director and USICD board member Glen White.  Continuing his dialogue with America's heartland on the CRPD, David also presented at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) annual conference in St. Paul.  In this half-day session, David was joined by Steve Eidelman, Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership at the University of Delaware, and three self-advocates from Minnesota's ACT Network: Kelly Lee, Carrie Varner, and Peggy Mehan.  Of the event, Varner said: "It's one thing to know your rights but it's another thing to know you deserve the rights and know how to advocate for them."

Read the full article at:
 http://www.usicd.org/index.cfm/news_crpd-outreach

To read more about USICD's Outreach and Education Initiative, visit:

http://www.usicd.org/index.cfm/community-outreach

27 disabled peoples' organizations have been selected in the first round of applications to receive an eGranary unit that contains the Global Disability Rights Library.  Click below to read a full list of selected organizations:

http://www.usicd.org/index.cfm/gdrl-deployments 

Disability rights advocates around the globe can now access a newly launched tool for finding the knowledge and toolkits they need: the Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) at http://gdrl.org.  A prototype "test" version of this library is being made available both on-line and off-line so that users can share feedback with the GDRL team on improving the library. 

"We are excited to be able to begin sharing the prototype version of the Global Disability Rights Library with the public because we need everyone's help in making it an outstanding resource," says Andrea Shettle, GDRL program manager at USICD.  "Disability rights advocates, policy makers, and other stakeholders in developing countries deserve easier access to a rich body of digital knowledge.  These websites, videos, and electronic publications can support their work in improving the lives of people with disabilities in developing countries.  The GDRL is still very much a work in progress.  We need disabled people's organizations, service providers, government personnel, families, and people with disabilities around the world to start using it and telling us how they want us to improve the library."

Follow this link to read the full press release: http://www.usicd.org/index.cfm/news_gdrl-prototype-now-online

Explore the Prototype GDRL online at http://www.gdrl.org

June 27, 2011

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM

2011 Annual Conference on Independent Living

July 13 - July 16, 2011

• 149 Signatories
• 101 Ratifications

• 90 Signatories
• 61 Ratifications