USICD Board Acknowledges the Passing of International Disability Rights Activist,
Dr. Susan Daniels |  On October 28, 2011, the USICD Board met and adopted a resolution acknowledging the passing of founding member and stalwart champion of international disability rights, Dr. Susan Daniels. A native of New Orleans, Dr. Daniels was widely credited with bringing about the "Ticket to Work" program at the Social Security Administration. The resolution reads:
Whereas, in the words of a colleague, "No one who knew her will ever forget her. She had more than a life well-lived. She set the highest bar for humanitarianism." |
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Remembering Don Galloway |
Upon learning of the passing of pioneering disability rights activist Don Galloway on November 3, 2011, at age 73, USICD President Marca Bristo shares this remembrance:
Don was a dear friend of mine. We did many things together including travelling to Japan for the first Japan-USA disability exchange. All of us on that trip will always remember him serenading us with his guitar, singing our host Senator Yashiro's favorite song, "You Are My Sunshine" . . . over and over and over.
Don dedicated his life to the cause of social justice, particularly to bring public attention to the concerns of minorities with disabilities. He helped to plan the first and only White House dialogue on Minorities with Disabilities. And during our joint tenure with the National Council on Independent Living, Don was featured in Ebony magazine using that platform to give voice to the dual discrimination faced by African-Americans with disabilities. Finally, Don was a global pioneer serving as the Director of Peace Corps in Jamaica long before anyone was advocating for inclusion in such programs.
I will never forget all he taught me. Our condolences to June and his family.
--Marca
[Additional obituary links will be available at USICD.org very soon.] |
News from Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) 8th World Assembly | |
DPI's 8th World Assembly was held on October 10-13, 2011 in Durban, South Africa. During the World Assembly, new Executive Officers were elected. Javed Abidi (Asia/Pacific) was elected as the new DPI Chairperson. USICD welcomes and congratulates Javed and the rest of the new DPI Executive Officers!
People with disabilities and disabled people's organisations (DPOs) from 66 countries of the world participated in the World Assembly. The participants, believing that the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is "the bedrock for the true empowerment of people with disabilities," urged all member states to the CRPD to:
- Involve persons with disabilities to actively participate in the CRPD implementation and monitoring process;
- Encourage political participation and build leadership among persons with disability;
- Ensure that all programs are gender sensitive and focused on strengthening the capacity of youth and women with disability;
- Ensure that PWDs have equal access to education, training and employment;
- Emphasize the need for disability inclusive development cooperation;
- Engage in the process of development of accessible technology to ensure that people with disabilities have access to information in accessible formats;
- Focus on the needs of people with disabilities in emergencies and situations of humanitarian risks;
Participants also unanimously pledged "to continue working towards removing all barriers - both physical and otherwise, in the way of true emancipation of people with disabilities and to prevent discrimination of any kind, based on any type of disability, specially intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities"
Read more of what participants agreed to by adopting the Durban Declaration. |
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International Day of Persons with Disabilities | |
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is annually recognized on December 3. This year's theme
is "Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development."
about the 2011 international day. |
USICD talks Universal Design in Brazil | |
This October Ellis Ballard of USICD had the privilege of speaking and participating in the Third International Meeting on Technology and Innovation for Persons with Disabilities in São Paulo, Brazil. The meeting was a hybrid of a trade show and a conference, with the overarching purpose of exploring the possibilities and accomplishments of universal design to improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities.
Three days of panels and keynotes featured a diverse collection of speakers from all corners of Brazilian design and industry, government bodies supporting disability inclusion in São Paulo, as well as practitioners (teachers, librarians, journalists, advocates) of disability inclusion and disability rights. Sometimes it takes a dramatic change of scenery and perspectives to remember that ours is a global movement that is being driven from all corners of the world. Read More of Ellis' Blog |
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Employment of People with Disabilities: U.S. Awareness Raising and Article 27 | |
Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities spotlights the importance for countries to recognize the disabled workforce and promote meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Each October, the United States recognizes these principles by celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This occasion dates back to 1945, when Congress passed a law to officially observe the hiring of people with disabilities in October.
On October 31, USICD's David Morrissey and Esmé Grant attended Georgetown University's Conference on the Employment of People with Disabilities, recognizing the work the U.S. has accomplished and what remains to be done to fully incorporate people with disabilities in the labor market. At the event, Senator Bob Dole was presented the Human Spirit Award for his lifetime commitment and contributions to the independence and employment of people with disabilities. Senator Dole recognized the advancement of disability rights for America's veterans with disabilities and others in the disability community seeking full equality and expressed his support of U.S. ratification of the CRPD.
 | | John Kemp, Bob Dole & David Morrissey |
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Education and Outreach inside the Beltway! |
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Georgetown University |
October has been a busy month for USICD Staff! In addition to international presentations, staff members have continued education on global disability issues inside the beltway. On October 21st, USICD's Executive Director, David Morrissey, and staff member Esmé Grant presented on a panel at Georgetown University's DiverseABILITY Forum entitled, "Disability Rights, Disability Law." The panel discussed the recently released WHO World Report on Disability, domestic disability laws within the U.S., and the worldwide movement to recognize the rights of people with disabilities.
Other staff outreach included USICD's Ellis Ballard & Esmé Grant's presentation on CRPD and GDRL initiatives to international fellows from the East-West Center. The EWC program supports public diplomacy in the Asia Pacific Region and attendees included fellows from China, Thailand, and Nepal. Esmé also had the opportunity to present on the CRPD to an engaging delegation visiting with World Learning. The visiting group included delegates who worked for human rights organizations in Israel, West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, and Egypt. Topics of discussion included implementation of the CRPD, domestic models of education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the increase of people with disabilities from war, and the promotion of the rights of children with disabilities.
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More news from David Morrissey's Iowa Visit | |
September 27-30, 2011 found USICD Executive Director David Morrissey visiting Iowa City. With the help of our GDRL partners at the University of Iowa's Widernet Project, David was seen speaking everywhere including to law classes, social work symposia, and Iowa Public Radio about the international disability rights movement, the CRPD & GDRL.
To view a streaming video of his speech to the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, CLICK HERE |
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Member News and Opportunities | |
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Revised Program Officer Openingopportunity
Posted: Monday, October 24, 2011
Applications must be received by November 15, 2011.
PROJECT MANAGER - Disability and Vulnerability Focal Point opportunity Pakistan. Starting date: ASAP. Closing date for application : 31/12/2011
Call for Workshop Proposals opportunity
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2011
30th Anniversary National Conference |
| WORLD HEADLINES AND OPPORTUNITIES | |
Help Make Cabs Accessible
October 24, 2011
Source: NY Daily News
2nd Asia Pacific CBR Congress
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - Thursday, December 1, 2011
First Global Summit Dedicated to Mobile Applications and Services
Monday, December 5, 2011 - Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Pacific Rim International Forum
Saturday, March 24, 2012 - Sunday, March 25, 2012
28th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity
Monday, March 26, 2012 - Tuesday, March 27, 2012 In memoriam of Winston Zulu, Zambian AIDS activist
October 19, 2011
Source: Capella University
Democracy Fellowship - Disability/Human Rights opportunity
Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Revised Program Officer Opening opportunity
Posted: Monday, October 24, 2011
Revised Disability Applications must be received by November 15, 2011.
International Disabilities Consultant
opportunity
IFES is engaged in a two year cooperative agreement with USAID
European Parliamentary Officer, EDF opportunity
Posted: Friday, October 28, 2011
European Parliamentary Officer, EDF. Closing date for receipt of applications: 17 November 2011
POLICY OFFICER, EDF opportunity
Posted: Friday, October 28, 2011
Policy Officer, The European Disability Forum, Brussels Office. Closing date for receipt of applications: 17 November 2011.
Research Fellow, Leonard Cheshire Disability opportunity
Posted: Friday, October 28, 2011
Research Fellow, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development University College London. Closing Date for completed applications is Friday 25th November by 5:00pm
Call for Proposals Addressing Rights of Women with Disabilities 2011 opportunity Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Open Society Foundations' International Women's Program and the Disability Rights Initiative
Call for Proposals: Society for Disability Studies 25th Annual Conference
25th Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, June 20-23, 2012.
Deadline for submissions: December 1, 2011
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| CRPD Ratification Watch | |
As of
November 4, 2011
CRPD:
- 153 Signatories
- 106 Ratifications
Optional Protocol:
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90 Signatories -
63 Ratifications
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Recent Ratifications:
Cape Verde ratified the Convention on October 10, 2011
Luxembourg ratified the Convention and Optional Protocol on September 26, 2011
Micronesia signed the Convention on September 23, 2011
Bahrain ratified the Convention on September 22, 2011
Saint Lucia signed the Convention on September 22, 2011
Kyrgyzstan signed the Convention on September 21, 2011
Pulau signed the Convention on September 20, 2011
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