New Project Pioneers Enforcing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Globally

September 8, 2014
Big News! DREDF joins partners International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Mobility International USA (MIUSA), U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD) and the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the U.S. Department of State in a new project: RightsNow! Strong Communities through Enforcing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Second CRPD Hearing DELAYED

November 7, 2013
Senators Menendez and Corker and our target senators on the Foreign Relations Committee still need to hear from you and know that you support the CRPD!

Posted in Uncategorized

CRPD Hearing in the United States Senate

October 30, 2013
Chairman Menendez has scheduled the first of two Hearings on the CRPD on Nov 5th!

Senators Menendez and Corker and our target senators on the Foreign Relations Committee need to hear from everyone; they are logging all call and contacts made state by state. Our floor time depends on them hearing from you!  It is time for action NOW!

Posted in Uncategorized

Raise Your Voice for the ADA and Disability Treaty!

July 22, 2013
This is the week to weigh in on the Disability Treaty. Last week we heard from the New York Times Editorial Board and Stevie Wonder. This week we’ve heard from Secretary of State John Kerry. It’s time for the community to weigh in! If you will be in Washington, DC this week, we hope you will join the US International Council on Disabilities (USICD) and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) at the events below on Thursday, July 25: ...

Posted in ADA

Orrin Hatch Statement on CRPD

July 15, 2013
Yesterday afternoon Senator Hatch took to the Senate floor and unprovoked, made a long statement in opposition to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Senator Hatch claims that he supports disability rights, but actions speak louder than words. Taking to the Senate Floor to oppose the disability treaty is a clear sign that he intends to turn his back on people with disabilities both here in the U.S. and around the world.

Posted in Uncategorized

Activate June 24-27 for Justin Dart and the Disability Treaty!

June 20, 2013
On the anniversary of the passing of a great American and leader within the Disability Community let us all honor Justin's memory by calling your Senators and the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee asking them to: "Release the disability treaty and hold hearings!"

Posted in Uncategorized

Statement on Senate CRPD Vote

February 19, 2013
Despite the support of over 300 disability rights and veterans organizations, the US Senate failed to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) today, with a final vote of 61 Senators in support and 38 Senators opposed.

Posted in Uncategorized

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

June 9, 2012
The CRPD is a non-discrimination treaty seeking to achieve the same goals as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other existing disability laws in United States: to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.