Senator Tom Harkin Calls for Community Support for Ratification
| In a new video message, Senator Tom Harkin reasserts his commitment to U.S. ratification of the CRPD and calls on the community to support the effort by sending in our stories. Watch Video Here Do you have a disability and have had difficulty studying or traveling abroad? Did you go abroad for work or school and find challenges when you arrived? Were you unable to go because of your disability? Your story could help our work towards ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities -- by putting a FACE to why it is important! The CRPD is an international human rights treaty, modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and has been ratified by 145 countries. With your help, we hope to make the U.S. #146! If you have a story, please share it at http://bit.ly/shareCRPD. You can also share your support of CRPD on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtags #selfie #CRPD! |
DPI Hosts First Arab Regional Assembly
| A Regional Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) was held on April 22-24. National member representatives from across the region came together to discuss next steps for the newly formed DPI-Arab Regional body. The Assembly also conducted its first ever historic elections. These leaders listed below and can be seen pictured above, joined by DPI's global chair, Mr. Javed Abidi.
BOARD MEMBERS OF THE DPI-ARAB REGION
Chairperson
Sylvana El Lakkis (Lebanon)
Vice-Chairperson 1 -
Basher El Faitoury (Libya)
Vice-Chairperson 2 -
Reham Al Masry (Egypt)
Secretary -
Ahmed Berkia(Morocco)
Treasurer -
Manal Ali Saleh Al Ashwal (Yemen)
Congratulations to our fellow DPI Members! READ MORE |
USICD Launches New LinkedIn Page
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The USICD LinkedIn page is just the newest addition to USICD's array of social media tools enabling members and others to be involved in what we do. USICD is also on Facebook, Twitter, and WordPress blog.
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USICD Program Participant Anais Keenon
Shares Reflections from Kenya
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There is an almost indescribable appeal to being in Nairobi, Kenya. The trees are lush and verdant, birds with vibrant feathers and obnoxious calls abound, and brightly colored flowers are blooming in the half-dry, half-rainy season. Foods are usually sweet fruits, spicy meats or - inspired by both British and Indian influences - a healthy dose of chapatis and Masala chips (or French fries with masala sauce to some). People are warm, low-key and friendly.
It has been a long and fantastic journey from when and where I first started, in the cold depths of mid-January in a German town called Bensheim . . . READ MORE
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International Disability News
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Emirati Sign Language The United Arab Emirates is preparing a dictionary of Emirati sign language for the first time and DPI is helping to launch a "Hear us Sign" campaign to raise awareness of the language capabilities of people with hearing impairments. - Accessible Voting in India New improvements at Delhi polling places are encouraging people with disabilities to vote. Although voters appreciated the improvements, many people with disabilities said they had in the past by asking family members to help because they felt it was their responsibility to vote.
- China Allows People Who Are Blind to Take Exam For the first time ever, the Chinese government issued a directive to its Department of Education staff to allow people with disabilities to take the college entrance exams. Previously, people who are blind were denied the opportunity and often shunted into jobs such as massage or music.
- Challenges Faced by Children with Disabilities in Uganda Children with disabilities continue to face challenges in schools, with societal stigmas, and the lack of direct participation of children with disabilities and their families in formulating and implementing laws and policies.
- Autism in the Middle East While facilities and even the availability of diagnosis are improving throughout the Middle East, diagnosis and treatment continue to be challenged in some parts by societal instability.
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Member News and Opportunities
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Call for Volunteers for NCIL Conference Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2014
opportunity |
WORLD HEADLINES AND OPPORTUNITIES
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Announcing the book, "Choosing a Career in International Development: A Guide to the Professions of International Development" by Donovan Russell
April 25, 2014 Source: Book Site
UN: People With Disabilities Free To Make Own Decisions April 23, 2014 Source: Disability Scoop
Compilation of 11th Session of CRPD Committee c/o IDA April 23, 2014 Source: International Disability Alliance
Bob Dole is back in Kansas, running for nothing, but running hard April 22, 2014 Source: Washington Post
China to Allow the Blind to Take College Entrance Exam April 21, 2014 Source: The New York Times
Emirati sign language promoted April 17, 2014 Source: gulfnews.com
The International Disability Treaty April 15, 2014 Source: Wheelchair Traveling (Blog)
Tackling autism in the Middle East April 15, 2014 Source: AlJazeera
Disability Matters with Wade Henderson April 15, 2014 Source: Disability Matters
CRPD Committee Makes Reports Available April 14, 2014 Source: UNOHR
Amy Purdy's bionic grace on 'Dancing With the Stars' April 12, 2014 Source: The Washington Post
The Senate Can Pass A Treaty To Protect Fish But Not One To Protect Disability Rights April 11, 2014 Source: Think Progress
Spirited disabled voters throng well-equipped poll booths April 10, 2014 Source: DNAindia.com
Challenges faced by children with disabilities in Uganda April 8, 2014 Source: New Vision
Human rights training in Makira onCRPD April 8, 2014 Source: Solomon Star
A Life Deserved April 7, 2014 Source: Baltimore Sun
Romania has to ensure a better protection to persons with disabilities, children and Roma April 7, 2014 Source: Act Media
Sarah Garrecht Gassen: US must continue leading on rights for the disabled April 3, 2014
Palestine Becomes 144th State Party to Ratify the CRPD April 2, 2014 Source: UN Enable
CBR MEETING ON ARUBA Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
The New Era of Inclusive Movement Services Conference Thursday, May 8, 2014 - Thursday, May 8, 2014
30th Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disability and Diversity 2014 Monday, May 19, 2014 - Tuesday, May 20, 2014
3rd Annual M-Enabling Summit
Monday, June 9, 2014 - Friday, June 20, 2014
Seventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Tuesday, June 10, 2014 - Thursday, June 12, 2014
Inclusion International 16th World Congress: A Better World for All - No one Left behind Tuesday, June 10, 2014 - Friday, June 13, 2014
Inaugural International Summit on Accessibility Saturday, July 12, 2014 - Tuesday, July 15, 2014
AIDS 2014 20th International AIDS Conference Sunday, July 20, 2014 - Friday, July 25, 2014
COLLOQUIUM ANNOUNCEMENT Sign languages, deaf communities in Africa and Cote d'Ivoire: What future? Thursday, July 24, 2014 - Friday, July 25, 2014
Destinations for All. A World Summit Sunday, October 19, 2014 - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 opportunity
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CRPD Ratification Watch |
As of April 2014:
CRPD:
- 158 Signatories
- 145 Ratifications
Optional Protocol:
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92 Signatories
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80 Ratifications
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Recent Ratifications:
Switzerland Ratified the Convention on April 15, 2014
Palestine Ratified the Convention on April 2, 2014
Georgia Ratified the Convention on March 13, 2014
Andorra Ratified the Convention on March 11, 2014
Japan Ratified the Convention on January 20, 2014
Cote d'Ivoire Ratified the Convention on January 10, 2014
Tuvalu Ratified the Convention on December 18, 2013
Kiribati Ratified the Convention on September 27, 2013
Papua New Guinea Ratified the Convention on September 26, 2013
Bahamas Signed the Convention on September 24, 2013
Guinea-Bissau Signed the Convention on September 24, 2013
Zimbabwe Ratified the Convention on September 23, 2013
Kuwait Ratified the Convention on August 22, 2013
Singapore Ratified the Convention on July 18, 2013
DPR Korea Ratified the Convention on July 3, 2013
Palau Ratified the Convention on June 11, 2013
Norway Ratified the Convention on June 3, 2013
Iraq Ratified the Convention on March 20, 2013
Barbados Ratified the Convention on February 27, 2013
Albania Ratified the Convention on February 11, 2013
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USICD Board of Directors
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Marca Bristo - President
Lex Frieden- Vice President
David Hutt - Treasurer
Glen White - Secretary
John Lancaster - Past President
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Anita Aaron
Tony Coelho
Jill Houghton
Axel Leblois
Barbara LeRoy
Susan Mazrui
Patricia Morrissey
David Oaks
Stephanie Ortoleva
Jeff Rosen
Eric Rosenthal
Randy Rutta
Diana Samarasan
Betsy Valnes
Aubrey Webson
Tom Zampieri
Government Members
David Baquis
Joan Durocher
Meredith DeDonna
MarcieRoth
Sue Swenson
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