Purchase Tickets Today for the USICD Gala on December 5th, 2017! |
Please join us on 5 December to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities! The event will be held at the beautiful Embassy of France in Washington, DC, from 6 to 8 pm. Remarks by His Excellency Ambassador Gerard Araud will begin at 6:15 pm.
This year, our 2017 Dole-Harkin Award recipients are U.S. Senator John Barrasso and long-time international disability rights activist Judith Heumann! We will also recognize International Advocate Award, Risnawati Utami from Indonesia.
Come mingle with like-minded people who believe in the importance of the US disability community connecting with the global disability rights movement to promote disability rights around the world!
Excited about the gala? In social media, use the hashtag #USICDGala to talk about the event!
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USICD Meeting with the Embassy of Sierra Leone |
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USICD Executive DIrector, Isabel Hodge (second from the right) with Embassy staff. |
USICD's Executive Director, Isabel Hodge, met with the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone on 11 November. Sierra Leone estimates 2.7% of their 7 million population are people with disabilities. The Embassy reported that the incidence of disability is increasing due to conflicts, the rebel war, the recent Ebola outbreak, and other disasters. They are seeking assistance in several areas, such as:
- Accessible transportation
- Mobility devices
- Vocational training
- Accessible housing
- Musical instruments
Please contact
Mr. Joseph Fofanah
learn more about issues impacting people with disabilities in Sierra Leone.
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U.S. & Ireland Independent Living Peer Project |
Tony Ellis, Oregon's State Independent Living Council Chair, and W. Kirt Toombs, chief executive officer for Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living, invites Independent Living advocates to join them from June 18 - 23rd in 2018 for an United States & Ireland Independent Living Peer Project.
This is an opportunity to participate in the 10th Annual Disability Law and Policy Summer school at University of Ireland Galway Centre for Disability Law and Policy Institute for Lifecourse and Society and to network with our Ireland peers for the purposes of collaboratively advancing IL movement in the U.S. and Ireland.
Oregon's State Independent Living Council is a USICD member organization.
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Use Amazon Smile to Support USICD |
Consider using Amazon Smile to do your online shopping and support USICD at the same time! Instead of using your usual amazon.com link, visit this link:
From this link, do your holiday shopping and make your purchases as usual. A percentage of your purchases will be donated to USICD!
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Special Olympics Panel Discussion |
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USICD Executive Director Isabel Hodge with Special Olympics CEO, Mary Davis
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On October 27th, USICD's Executive Director, Isabel Hodge, and Board Member, Janet Lord participated in a Special Olympics Headquarters
Staff Connect
panel with Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Garrie Barnes (Special Olympics athlete employee), Antony Pipa (Brookings Institution), Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo (The World Bank), Dr. Derrick Cogburn (American University Institute on Disability and Public Policy).
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Isabel Hodge & Dr. Derrick Cogburn Holding a Special Olympics Soccer Ball |
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The topic of the panel discussion was
Human Rights and Resources for Inclusion; The Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The discussion helped staff develop an understanding of the importance of these global frameworks to achieving Special Olympics' goal of greater inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of society.
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Be a Part of the Global Giving Movement! |
Be a part of the global giving movement and donate to USICD on 28 November!
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USICD Mourns the Loss of Global Disability Rights Leader Maria Veronica Reina |
Maria Veronica Reina, a long-time tireless advocate for disability rights in Argentina and around the world, recently passed away.
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International Holman Prize Award Competition Soon to Open for Applications from Blind Adventurers, Creators |
The Lighthouse for the Blind will soon begin to accept applications for its annual
international Holman Prize award competition. Blind adventurers and creators from around the world will be able to apply for a $25,000 award that they can use to launch a project. The Lighthouse for the Blind is looking for "creative, boundary-pushing, innovative projects".
It begins with a 90-second "pitch" in YouTube in which an applicant explains their idea for how they would use the Holman Prize award money. Applicants who receive the most "likes" on their YouTube video during the application period will be asked to write a more detailed proposal. Finalists will need to interview with the award committee.
Read about 2017 Holman Prize winner Ahmet Ustunel, who is using his Holman Prize award funds to train to kayak Turkey's Bosphorus Straight completely solo. He is using this as an opportunity to educate others how blind people can use technology to navigate waters safely and independently.
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