Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Category: General

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold hearings on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilites treaty on November 5th and November 12th, almost a year after the Senate failed to ratify the treaty by five votes.  

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) treaty has already been ratified by over 120 countries. It was signed by President Obama in 2009, but still requires U.S. Senate ratification. The treaty provides a vital framework for creating legislation and policies around the world that embrace the rights and dignity of all people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) served as an inspiration for the treaty.  

RESNA supports ratification of the CRPD treaty. RESNA President Alex Mihailidis and RESNA Government Affairs committee chair Nathan Moon recently sent a letter to Senator Richard Menendez, chair of the committee, and ranking member Senator Robert Corker, expressing the organization's strong support.

Supporters of this effort are urged to contact their senators immediately and ask for their vote, whether they are on the Foreign Relations Committee or not. Every senator needs to be contacted. To find out how you can help, and how to contact your senator, please click here.