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| Highlights from 2011! Help Us Continue our Work into 2012 Through a Year-End Gift to USICD! |
December 8, 2011 |
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| Greetings!
2011 has seen continued expansion of disability rights awareness globally and increased activism from disability leaders. USICD continues to build bridges at home and abroad, uniting coalitions of government, civil society, citizen advocates, and businesses, recognizing that the cause of disability inclusion transcends region, nationality, or political affiliation. But in order to continue being a voice for disability-focused international cooperation and knowledge exchange, we need your support.
In the past year USICD's staff and board have been working tirelessly to advance our mission of promoting the rights of people with disabilities. Read below to see all of the exciting work USICD and our community have been doing to promote disability voices both here in the U.S. and abroad.
U.S. leadership on global disability rights and CRPD ratification cannot happen without hard work, education, and advocacy. To continue this growth and embrace the challenges of engaging an increasingly inter-connected and visible global disability community, I am asking you to make a year-end contribution to support USICD's work.
Please click here to show your support with a donation.
Our work relies upon the contribution of donors with a vision for the inclusion of people with disabilities in global society. The USICD Board of Directors and I thank you for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Marca Bristo, President
U.S. International Council on Disabilities |
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Global Disability Rights Library hits the ground and the web | |
 USICD's Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) project has grown from the seed of an idea into an extensive collection of legislation, advocacy toolkits, and capacity building material with contributions from organizations and publishers around the world. 2011 has seen an enthusiastic response to our call for applications, the launch of the GDRL online interface, the installation of prototype libraries in Peru, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Zambia, and the first round of libraries being installed in DPOs across Africa and South Asia. Keep tuned for more news in the coming months!
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Annual Meeting brings together a federal panel of disability rights advocates |
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Eric Rosenthal, Judith Heumann, and
Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo |
We were thrilled to have so many USICD and community members join us at our Annual Meeting in April at the U.S. Access Board. The event featured a federal panel including Special Advisor International Disability Rights Judith Heumann of the State Department, USAID Coordinator for Disability Inclusive Development Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, as well including USICD Vice President Eric Rosenthal of Disability Rights International to discuss inclusive development. |
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USICD in New York for launch of WHO/World Bank "World Report on Disability" | 
On Thursday, June 9, 2011 the World Report on Disability was released in New York. The numbers in the report 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%. USICD Executive Director David Morrissey was in New York for the release of this substantial report and presented on the findings at the CIRRIE-sponsored U.S. Launch symposium in September. |
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David Morrissey joins Judith Heumann for 'Conversations with America' | 
On Thursday, February 17, 2011, Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, held a conversation with David Morrissey, Executive Director of the United States International Council on Disabilities for 'Conversations with America.' The discussion was moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Public Affairs and streamed live on DipNote, the Department of State's official blog. |
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USICD reports from the Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) 8th World Assembly in Durban, South Africa |
 | | DPI's new Executive Officers. |
People with disabilities and disabled people's organizations (DPOs) from 66 countries around the world participated in the DPI World Assembly in October. The participants, believing that 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 take several actions towards implementation. Click Here to read the full Durban Declaration |
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USICD participates in United Nations CRPD side event |
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David Morrissey, Diana Samarasan, Anne Hawker, Catherine Townsend
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Annual Meeting: Japan earthquake relief benefit | 
This year, as a special initiative, the USICD Annual Meeting provided the opportunity for attendees to make a donation in support of people with disabilities in Japan following the recent earthquakes and tsunami. The Relief Headquarters for Persons with Disabilities of Tohoku-Kanto Great Earthquake is under the operation of DPI-Japan, our sister organization in the Disabled Peoples' International network. All donations were bundled for 100% redistribution to this Japanese disability community effort. |
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This October USICD had the privilege of speaking and participating in the 
