as shared by our colleagues at Access Living; Below, please see Access Living’s press statement on today’s events....
The week of July 22, Disability Advocates around the country are celebrating the 23rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and calling for Senate Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Signed by President Bush on July 26, 1990, the ADA has given people with disabilities a level playing field to pursue opportunities in education and employment, and has improved accessibility in public spaces and in transportation, enabling people with disabilities to engage in their communities. With curb cuts, lift equipped buses, accessible parks and beach fronts, Chicago is working toward becoming a community that is fully- inclusive for people with disabilities.
In 2013, disability rights advocates are working to extend the principles of the ADA to people with disabilities around the world with the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. If ratified by the United States, the Convention would extend ADA coverage to United States Citizens traveling and working abroad, and would give the United States a seat at the table in determining policy to protect the rights of people with disabilities in other countries.
Convention support is picking up momentum. Last week, the New York Times Editorial Board endorsed the Convention and Stevie Wonder produced a video in support of it. This week, Secretary of State John Kerry wrote in support of the Convention. The Convention also has strong bi-partisan support and support from all the major veterans groups.
On Thursday, July 25, in recognition of the ADA anniversary, disability groups in Washington DC will urge congress to bring the Convention to the Senate Floor for a vote. The US International Council on Disabilities (USICD), the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) are hosting these events in support of the Convention:
* 10:30 AM- 11:30 AM: NCIL March to the Hill with Convention banner
* 11:30 AM- 12:30 PM: NCIL Rally with Convention signs and speakers
* 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM: News Conference on the CRPD on the Lawn of the US Capitol Reflecting Pool (area on the Capitol Side of the pool between Constitution Ave, NW, Maryland Ave, SW and First St. NW, 3rd St. NW).
In Chicago, disability community members will support the DC efforts by placing calls to Senate leaders, urging them to bring the Convention to the floor for a vote. For more information about the Convention, please visit the USICD Website, or contact Gary Arnold at 312-640-2199, garnold@accessliving.org.
# # #
Dear Access Living friends and allies,
Today, hundreds of disability advocates from around the country are gathering in Washington, DC, to march on the US Capitol to demand that the U.S. Senate ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. In solidarity, we need YOU to call key U.S. Senators TODAY between 11 am and 1 pm Central Time.
Please call:
Senator Corker, Tennessee (202) 224-6797
Senator Menendez, New Jersey (202) 224-4651
What to say: “Hello, my name is ____ and I am a disability advocate. I am calling to ask Senator ____ to hold a hearing ASAP on the UN disability treaty in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”
Please also call our own Illinois Senators Durbin and Kirk to encourage them to keep up the fight!
Senator Durbin (202) 224-2152
Senator Kirk (202) 224-2854
What to say: “Hello, my name is ____ and I am a disability advocate from Illinois. I am calling to thank Senator _____ for his support for the UN disability treaty and I want to tell him to keep up the good work to pass the treaty!”
You will receive another email today at 11 am reminding you to call!
Let’s go Illinois!
Amber Smock
Director of Advocacy, Access Living
The week of July 22, Disability Advocates around the country are celebrating the 23rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and calling for Senate Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Signed by President Bush on July 26, 1990, the ADA has given people with disabilities a level playing field to pursue opportunities in education and employment, and has improved accessibility in public spaces and in transportation, enabling people with disabilities to engage in their communities. With curb cuts, lift equipped buses, accessible parks and beach fronts, Chicago is working toward becoming a community that is fully- inclusive for people with disabilities.
In 2013, disability rights advocates are working to extend the principles of the ADA to people with disabilities around the world with the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. If ratified by the United States, the Convention would extend ADA coverage to United States Citizens traveling and working abroad, and would give the United States a seat at the table in determining policy to protect the rights of people with disabilities in other countries.
Convention support is picking up momentum. Last week, the New York Times Editorial Board endorsed the Convention and Stevie Wonder produced a video in support of it. This week, Secretary of State John Kerry wrote in support of the Convention. The Convention also has strong bi-partisan support and support from all the major veterans groups.
On Thursday, July 25, in recognition of the ADA anniversary, disability groups in Washington DC will urge congress to bring the Convention to the Senate Floor for a vote. The US International Council on Disabilities (USICD), the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) are hosting these events in support of the Convention:
* 10:30 AM- 11:30 AM: NCIL March to the Hill with Convention banner
* 11:30 AM- 12:30 PM: NCIL Rally with Convention signs and speakers
* 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM: News Conference on the CRPD on the Lawn of the US Capitol Reflecting Pool (area on the Capitol Side of the pool between Constitution Ave, NW, Maryland Ave, SW and First St. NW, 3rd St. NW).
In Chicago, disability community members will support the DC efforts by placing calls to Senate leaders, urging them to bring the Convention to the floor for a vote. For more information about the Convention, please visit the USICD Website, or contact Gary Arnold at 312-640-2199, garnold@accessliving.org.
# # #
Dear Access Living friends and allies,
Today, hundreds of disability advocates from around the country are gathering in Washington, DC, to march on the US Capitol to demand that the U.S. Senate ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. In solidarity, we need YOU to call key U.S. Senators TODAY between 11 am and 1 pm Central Time.
Please call:
Senator Corker, Tennessee (202) 224-6797
Senator Menendez, New Jersey (202) 224-4651
What to say: “Hello, my name is ____ and I am a disability advocate. I am calling to ask Senator ____ to hold a hearing ASAP on the UN disability treaty in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”
Please also call our own Illinois Senators Durbin and Kirk to encourage them to keep up the fight!
Senator Durbin (202) 224-2152
Senator Kirk (202) 224-2854
What to say: “Hello, my name is ____ and I am a disability advocate from Illinois. I am calling to thank Senator _____ for his support for the UN disability treaty and I want to tell him to keep up the good work to pass the treaty!”
You will receive another email today at 11 am reminding you to call!
Let’s go Illinois!
Amber Smock
Director of Advocacy, Access Living
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