If you were unable to attend the community leadership call on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) last week, you can view it on YouTube. The call featured Senator Tom Harkin, who called us to action!
Senator Harkin explained that “the number of calls that came into the Senate offices last year opposing the disability treaty outnumbered the ones that came in supporting it by a factor of 50 to 1. But we also know that the vast majority of the American people want this and support it.”
As USICD’s President Marca Bristo said on the call, “We’re calling upon our Senators to have the courage and the dedication to do what’s right… It’s seldom that people have a second opportunity to do the right thing.”
The Truth Campaign: Answering the Opposition
There are three main myths being spread about the treaty.
Sovereignty: Let your U.S. Senators know that you care about this treaty and tell them not to get fooled by the lies and misrepresentation of the leaders of the Home School Legal Defense Association. All human rights treaties passed by the U.S. Senate include the same RUD (a legally binding condition added to treaties to protect U.S. sovereignty) that is included in the CRPD. U.S. sovereignty has not been affected by those treaties and will not be impacted by this treaty.
Abortion: There is nothing in this treaty that changes abortion rights in this country. It simply states that people with disabilities should have the same access to health care as people without disabilities. It is a statement of non-discrimination only - not a change in U.S. law or policy.
Homeschooling / parental rights: This is a non-discrimination treaty that does not change our law but confirms our commitment to disability rights and allows us to impact disability rights globally! That means NO changes to U.S. laws covering parental rights. That means kids can still be homeschooled – nothing relating to homeschooling changes. Furthermore, the treaty supports people with disabilities and their right to live in the community among family and protects parents and children from separation on the basis of disability. [Read more...]
NCIL is excited to announce our continuing partnership with the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to promote and expand disability and aging partnerships. Collaboration is essential if people with disabilities and the aging are to acquire needed services. Cooperation between disability and aging organizations should be nourished and supported by all agencies committed to successful community alliances. Since CILs and aging service providers provide complimentary services, and given the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to efficiently utilize existing resources while avoiding duplication of services and ensuring sustainability. In an effort to understand and develop more substantial relationships with the aging community, NCIL recognizes the need to educate Centers and give them the tools they need to succeed.
Yesterday, May 16, 2013, the Senate HELP Committee held an executive session regarding the nomination of Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez to be the next Secretary of Labor (DOL). The Committee, on a strict party-line vote of 12-10, approved Mr. Perez’s nomination, which will now likely be sent to the Senate floor for a final vote. Despite Mr. Perez’s outstanding leadership at the Department of Justice and his impressive history of leadership as a civil servant, no Republicans voted in favor of his confirmation. There are also now indications that if Democrats attempt a floor vote on the issue, Republicans will more than likely filibuster.
Congressman George Miller (D-CA; ranking member of the House Education & Workforce Committee) and Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS) recently introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, HR 1893, a bill to protect all students nationwide from restraint and seclusion.
Source: USICD / DREDF
A hearing in the Senate HELP Committee on the confirmation of Tom Perez as Secretary of Labor was scheduled for today, Wednesday, May 8. The hearing has been rescheduled for May 16, 2013 at 9:15 a.m. Eastern.
