The Latest on U.S. CRPD Ratification!

July was a very exciting month as the U.S. moved forward with its ratification process of the CRPD. The American disability community showed strength in numbers by attending the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on July 12^th and the Committee mark-up and vote on July 26^th. At the hearing, witness and USICD Board Member John Lancaster conveyed the importance of ratification and the major disability support behind the treaty.  

Throughout July American disability advocates showed their unity by walking the halls of the U.S. Senate distributing letters of support to Senate offices. American advocates also signed on to USICD's letter of support, called Senate offices, and emailed, tweeted and Facebooked. Thanks to everyone's tireless efforts, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee successfully voted the CRPD out of Committee with a vote of 13-6!  

Before taking its August recess, the Senate issued a statement of support in the Congressional Record by Majority Leader Harry Reid encouraging ratification of the CRPD. When the Senate is back in session in September, a bipartisan group of champions will lead the treaty to its final vote.  This bipartisan group of champions includes: Senators McCain (R-AZ), Durbin (D-IL), Kerry (D-MA), Barrasso (R-WY), Coons (D-DE), Udall (D-NM), Moran (R-KS), and Harkin (D-IA).

What can you do over the August Recess?

• Visit our CRPD Ratification Updates page to find out how to:
  • Call or visit with your Senator when they're back in the home state
  • Sign on to USICD's letter of support and/or send us your own!
  • Encourage friends and family to do the same with emails, Twitter and Facebook. (Please note that if you tweet with #CRPD, we will be more likely to retweet your efforts.)
  • Be sure to thank the Senators above who have been supporting us with a thank you call or an email or tweet as well. We want them to know how much we appreciate their assistance in this process!

 USICD joined nine other organizations in creating a space for participants at the July 2012 World AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, to network with each other around issues related to disability and HIV/AIDS.  A large exhibition area at the conference was used to create a publicly-accessible Global Village in which organizations from around the world hosted exhibit tables or spaces called "networking zones."  Each networking zone was centered on a particular geographic area, such as Africa, or on a particular population, such as youth with AIDS or aging populations with AIDS.  This included a space set aside for empowering the disability community.  Visitors to the disability networking zone were able read posters, pick up handouts and publications related to disability and AIDS, participate in group discussions with peers from around the world, and attend presentations on a range of topics relevant to disability and AIDS.

David Morrissey & Frederick Ouko Alucheli of the Kenyan Disabled Action Network, a partner in USICD's GDRL project

 "On behalf of USICD, I am so pleased to be able to join the other sponsoring organizations in raising awareness around the topic of disability inclusion in HIV/AIDS programming, and in creating a space for members of the disability community at the conference to network with each other.  As a national DPO based in the host city, I wish to welcome you to Washington, DC.  This is your World AIDS Conference and your networking zone," said USICD Executive Director David Morrissey who provided remarks at the opening ceremony of the disability networking zone.

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• The 2012 London Olympic Games has been a banner year for athletes with disabilities.
• The first world record at this year's Summer Olympics was set by South Korean archer Dong Hyun who is legally blind
• South African double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius makes it through to semi-final heat in the 400M
• Polish ping pong player Natalia Partyka who has one arm will compete in Olympics and Paralympics
• The 2012 Paralympic Games start August 29^th Help Cheer on Team USA!

• The 5th session of the Conference of State Parties to the CRPD is coming up on September 12-14th. Among other things, the Committee will hold elections for 9 new members of the Committee. To view a list of nominees, click here!

With the movement for U.S. ratification ramping up this past month, USICD has focused its efforts on making sure the American disability community, Senators, and their staffs have all the materials and information they need to make this a successful campaign.

USICD continues to work with new coalitions and groups to provide education on the treaty and the latest on its status in the Senate. Last Friday, Disability Rights Program Manager, Esme Grant, presented on the CRPD to the  Mental Health Liaison Group. MLHG is a coalition of mental health groups formed in 1969 to share public policy issues and collaborate on advocacy efforts. USICD is thrilled to be working with MHLG and serving as a resource to its member organizations on CRPD education and outreach.

Also, in July, Esme Grant provided a CRPD presentation at the Disability Networking Zone at the World AIDS Conference in Washington, DC. Esme provided background and history of the CRPD and described how the treaty can be used to integrate people with disabilities in AIDS education and prevention programs. Attendees included representatives from Canada, Tanzania, and Kenya. They learned how the treaty improves the treatment and care for people with disabilities living with AIDS and how the treaty provides a framework and tool to promote the values of non-discrimination and equality for all citizens with disabilities.

If your organization is interested in a CRPD presentation, please contact Esme Grant at egrant@usicd.org.

Please join us in welcoming a new IREX Community Solutions Fellow from Nepal, Padam Pariyar. Also, a grand farewell to USICD staff member Ellis Ballard whose dedication and work will leave a permanent mark on USICD's history. USICD is thrilled that Ellis will be pursuing his Master's Degree in International Social Work at Washington University and we wish him the very best with his studies and bright future. We are also saying farewell to a wonderful summer intern from the Washington Internship Institute, Chris Damon-Cronmiller. Chris is returning to Connecticut to finish his final year of undergraduate study at Fairfield University. After an exciting summer at USICD, he plans to pursue a career in international disability policy. Please read a brief intro about Padam and a farewell message from Ellis below.

New IREX Community Solutions Fellow Padam Bahadur Pariyar

Padam joins USICD as a Community Solutions Fellow 2012 through International Research and Exchange Board (IREX). He will be working with USICD through December supporting the effective implementation of GDRL and other USICD initiatives. Pariyar received a Bachelor Degree in Education and Master Degree in Rural Development from Tribhuvan University of Nepal. He is currently working with Handicap International in Nepal in the capacity of Advocacy Technical Officer. Padam has been working on a variety of community development programs since 2003, primarily with national and international disabled people's organizations. Throughout that time, he has focused on the empowerment and promotion of the rights of marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities, and the indigenous people of Nepal. As president of SAMRIDDHA NEPAL, he has been advocating and supporting development actors in the mainstreaming of disability issues in their working agendas.

Ellis Ballard Farewell

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

After two years with USICD my time has come to a close. In that time I have helped USICD grow from a small group of staff and community members to a strong voice for disability inclusion around the world through the GDRL and our CRPD ratification campaign.  But perhaps the most satisfying has been the opportunity to work with so many inspiring and committed advocates and organizations.

I am leaving USICD for further studies, but my plan is to firmly root myself in issues of international disability inclusion and accessibility.  And I look forward to watching and helping as the movement towards disability rights moves forward around the world.

Best,

Ellis

Connect with USICD!

Member News and Opportunities

HIV Conference: Include People With Disabilities
July 23, 2012
Source: AlertNet   

USICD Welcomes the Montserrat Disability Community into the Disabled Peoples' International
July 25, 2012 

Videos of the U.S. Launch and Symposium for the World Report on Disability
August 6, 2012

UK Fund to Encourage PWD's to go into Politics
July 10, 2012
Source: Public Service.CO.UK

2012 elections of the CRPD Committee will be held on 12 September
July 9, 2012 

2012 SENIOR MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (SMI)
Monday, August 20, 2012 - Friday, October 12, 2012   

London 2012 - Paralympic Games
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - Sunday, September 9, 2012  

FIFTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF STATES PARTIES
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - Friday, September 14, 2012  

TRANSED 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012 - Friday, September 21, 2012  

International Week of the Deaf 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012 - Sunday, September 30, 2012  

Rehabilitation International - Fifth Arab Region Conference
Tuesday, September 25, 2012 - Thursday, September 27, 2012  

22nd RI World Congress 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012 - Friday, November 2, 2012

WBU/ICEVI General Assemblies
Thursday, November 8, 2012 - Sunday, November 18, 2012  

1st CBR World Congress
Monday, November 26, 2012 - Wednesday, November 28, 2012

CREATING NEW FUTURES FOR ALL: CHILDREN, YOUTH, DISABILITY AND SITUATIONS OF FORCED MIGRATION
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 - Friday, November 30, 2012