This presentation advocates for US ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) treaty. It explains that the CRPD is an international treaty focused on protecting disability rights. US ratification would allow the country to promote disability rights globally and benefit American businesses operating abroad. Over 600 disability organizations, 21 veterans organizations, and 26 faith organizations support ratification. The presentation encourages contacting senators to advocate for ratification and provides ways for individuals to get involved through social media and other means of education.

1. Support US Ratification
of the CRPD Disability
Treaty
(CRPD = Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities)

2. What is in this presentation?
 What the CRPD disability treaty is
 Why US ratification matters
 How to talk to your senators about the
CRPD!
 Other ways individuals can help
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

3. What is the CRPD?
 CRPD = Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities
 The CRPD is an international human
rights treaty (an agreement among
countries)
 It is focused on protecting the human
rights of people with disabilities
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

4. What is the CRPD?
http://disabilitytreaty.org
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

5. How Did US Leadership Help
Inspire the CRPD?
 The CRPD was inspired in part by US
leadership, including US laws such as the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
 Countries around the world are using the
CRPD as a framework in creating
legislation similar to the ADA.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

6. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

7. Why Ratify the CRPD?
 US ratification would give us more
opportunities to promote disability rights
around the world.
 The US Chamber of Commerce, and other
experts say US ratification of the CRPD
would benefit American business abroad.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

8. Who Wants US to Ratify the
CRPD?
 More than 600 disability organizations
support US ratification of the CRPD
 Also, 21 veterans organizations
 And 26 faith organizations
 See a list of supporting organizations at
http://cunycoalition.org
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

9. Talk to Senators!
 Find contact information for your senators
 Find the a letter
 Find sample tweets
http://cunycoalition.org
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

10. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

11. Your Message for Senators
 “Please ratify the Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
in 2013! This is an important issue for the
American disability and veterans
community!”
 (Optional): Briefly explain your connection
to the disability or veterans community.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

12. What Else Can I Do to Help?
 Educate your friends and family about the
CRPD. Recruit their support!
 If you use Twitter, then follow and re-tweet
@CCSDadvocates often. Use the
#iSupportCRPD hash tag.
 If you use Facebook, “share”
the CCSD Facebook page.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

13. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

14. What Else Can I Do to Help?
 Show the faces of CRPD supporters to
senators!
 Take a picture of you holding your own
homemade sign supporting the CRPD like
the pictures in this slide show!
 Email your picture and CCSD can tweet it
for you!
info@cunycoalition.org
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

15. Have Your Organization Sign On!
 Find out if YOUR organization has signed
on to support the CRPD! Check the list at
http://usicd.org
 Not on the list? Ask
them to consider
signing :)
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

16. Useful Web Links
 News, updates, and materials for CRPD
advocates at http://cunycoalition.org
and http://disabilitytreaty.org
 Great video on the CRPD and campaign
for US ratification–48 minutes with closed
captions.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

17. Q&A
 Thank you!
 Steven A. Rodriguez
steven@cunycoalition.org
+1-518-639-6338
 Edmund Asiedu
eddieessel@gmail.com
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities