LISTEN HERE

Joyce Bender hosts Disability Matters, a weekly radio show on Voice America that focuses on the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.  On January 10, 2012, she spoke with David Morrissey, Executive Director of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD). He discussed the mission of this non-profit, membership, constituent-led organization committed to promoting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the U.S. and abroad.

The members, staff, and board of directors of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) join the global community in celebrating December 3, 2011 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  This year’s theme for December 3 is “Together for a Better World for All: Including Persons with Disabilities in Development.”  The leadership of USICD supports this theme and believes that international development agencies and organizations must be inclusive of people with disabilities when determining policy and allocating project resources. 

Click Here to read the full statement

On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, USICD Executive Director David Morrissey met with Professor Shahid Memon of the Pakistan Disabled Foundation. This was their first chance to sit down and talk after a brief meeting at the DPI World Assembly in Durban, South Africa.  The conversation ranged from the disability rights movement in Pakistan and its engagement internationally through Disabled Peoples International, to interest in bridging disability groups to other DPO's around the world through the Global Disability Rights Library.  Voice of America was able to come and cover the visit. 

See the Voice of America segment, broadcast in Urdu here.

Photo Courtesy of Susan Dunn and MIUSA

Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) convened in Durban, South Africa this October for its 8th World Assembly.  David Morrissey of USICD was there to participate and present on the GDRL.  The purpose of the Assembly was to convene disability advocates from around the world, and to elect a new Executive Committee.  From the Assembly emerged a document reaffirming DPI's committment to cross-disability cooperation and successful implementation of the CRPD. 

Click Here to read the Durban Declaration
Click Here to read the full list of DPI Executive Committee officers. 

Due to the popularity of our recent poster on the CRPD principles and key articles, USICD has now made a printable version of the poster available to the general public free of charge.  This is a large file, so we suggest you fit it to one page before you attempt to print it.  And while you are there, be sure to check out our other resources and tools on the CRPD. http://www.usicd.org/index.cfm/tools-and-resources

On Thursday, June 09, 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.

The report ends on a hugely proactive note, offering nine recommendations as well as specific recommendations for how the United Nations, development organizations, government, private sector, communities, and people with disabilities and their families can achieve these goals.  This report will be an invaluable tool for everyone around the world working to empower people with disabilities to reach their full potential.  It gives one hope that, in the inspiring words of Stephen Hawking from the foreword of the report, “this century will mark a turning point for inclusion of people with disabilities in the lives of their societies.”

Click Here to download the full report,
as well as translations and alternative formats

Click Here to read David Morrissey's
live blog posts from the launch in New York

USICD members, staff, and board have joined people around the world in watching events in Japan after a severe 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck the eastern-north part of their country on March 11, 2011.  A subsequent massive tsunami has caused even further damage, including damage to nuclear reactors in Japan.  USICD wishes to extend its sympathy and support to the people of Japan during this difficult time.  USICD staff member Andrea Shettle is monitoring the situation in Japan to assist in sharing information about the impact of the recent disaster, particularly for people with disabilities in Japan.

Click here to read an appeal from the Relief Headquarters for Persons with Disabilities of Tohoku-Kanto Great Earthquake that shares what was known as of March 17 and that urges relief organizations to take the needs of people with disabilities into consideration.

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. 

Further resources will be regularly updated on USICD's Humanitarian Response page as they become available. 

Click here to read USICD's full statement

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, on International Disability Rights.  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, at 3:00 p.m. ET.  

Video and a transcript of this discussion  is available at: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/cwa_international_disability_rights

 
United States Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Judy Heumann addresses the Assembly of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), September 2, 2010, at United Nations Headquarters, New York.  Photo courtesy Ruoyi Jiang/Victor Pineda Foundation.

I ask you to join with me in the important effort of making CRPD ratification in the United States a reality. When the Obama Administration completes its review and submits the CRPD to the U.S. Senate for its consent for ratification, we must come together as the American disability community and proclaim “Yes to Ratification.”

Click here for the full text of Tony's message. 

Thank you!  In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 2010, USICD members and allies delivered a letter to Senators Kerry and Lugar of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, calling for their bipartisan leadership toward United States ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Please read our letter to the Senators here. 

July 24, 2009, President Barack Obama signs the order for the United States to become a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the East Room of the White House.  Read USICD's media release about this event here.  Photo Courtesy Rehabilitation International.