I had the honor to be with our esteemed delegation from Pakistan this month, which included two parliamentarians, who were here to explore strategies to implement disability rights legislation and policies, an issue that is of great concern to millions of people with disabilities and their allies across the world.
Also in May, I plan to participate in the International Women's Forum in Stockholm, Sweden, where I hope to pave the way for other disabled women to join this global network of women leaders. While there, I will also meet with MIUSA's first alum, now a well-known human rights journalist in Stockholm. Read about him in the Alumni Spotlight.
From disability rights training in Armenia, to disabled women's leadership programs in 20 countries, MIUSA is using every opportunity to build and and expand the leadership of disability right leaders and allies so that we can create a more just and equitable world.
Thank you for all you do and for reading about and supporting MIUSA's work globally.
A diverse and dedicated delegation of professionals from Pakistan participated in a 13-day training in Eugene, Oregon and Berkeley, California, addressing policy-level enforcement of the rights of people with disabilities in Pakistan. The delegates learned first-hand what the implementation of disability rights laws looks like through observing ASL interpreters in an elementary school classroom, hiking accessible trails, riding public transportation, engaging with local government leaders, and visiting Berkeley, California, the birthplace of the disability rights movement. Follow the group's journey and view the Flickr slideshow.
How do citizens make change in recently democratic countries? They present a united voice and they run for office! For the first time in Armenia, citizens wrote a policy platform and presented it to the candidates running for Parliament prior to their April 2nd elections. With technical assistance from the MIUSA-led RightsNow! project, nearly 60 disabled persons organizations and civil society organizations from across the country endorsed the inclusive reforms for disability rights outlined in the document.
We also received exciting news that Zara Batoyan, a MIUSA alumna with a disability, is a political candidate for local municipal office! Elections will be held on May 14th. Read more about collaborative action for change in Armenia and how political advocacy is making a difference on the Global Disability RightsNow! website.
Brilliant & Resilient Exhibit at the Schnitzer Museum of Art
June 10 - August 28, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon
This summer, the exhibit of portraits and vignettes of women activists with disabilities from around the world will be displayed at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the University of Oregon campus. Save the date for a special reception to take place on the evening of June 28, 2017!
InterAction Forum
June 19 - 22, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
How can YOU and your organization engage people with disabilities as key participants and agents for change in achieving sustainable development? Attend the InterAction Forum to hear MIUSA staff present, join the Disability Working Group, and meet the recipient of the 2017 Disability Inclusion Award.
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Annual Conference
July 24 - 27, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
NCIL calls on the disability community - from the U.S. and around the world - to attend its annual conference centering around the theme of "Revolution: A Global Independent Living Movement." Planning to be at the conference or the Global Independent Living Summit? Find out how to connect with us there.
At 19, Anders Orrenius did something that no one had done before: he participated in MIUSA’s first-ever international exchange program in 1983. That year, he traveled from Sweden to join other teens from around the world - with and without disabilities - to Oregon to engage in community service projects.
Decades have passed, but Anders still remembers the experience as one that “opened my eyes to the world and to issues of disability, and shaped me into the person that I am.” That person is, today, a Stockholm-based journalist working tirelessly for human rights and civil rights issues. He has lived around the world writing, teaching, reporting on the UN Millennium Development Goals, and raising three children. Play Anders' video message to MIUSA.
We have already selected several amazing women to attend the Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability – San Francisco, and we're looking forward to meeting them (and for them to meet one another!) this June 2nd and 3rd. The women bring a diversity of experiences, and we expect lively discussions as we explore international opportunities and strengthen disability pride.
The GREAT NEWS is that we still have some spots left for more Loud, Proud and Passionate women to join us for a weekend on the California coast! Apply as soon as possible before they fill up!
Over the past ten years, more than 250 students with disabilities from 37 countries have participated in the prestigious U.S. Department of State-sponsored Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programs. These programs present international high school students with leadership and learning opportunities that last a lifetime.
Which countries send the most FLEX & YES students with disabilities, and where in the U.S. are these students hosted? What types of disabilities are represented? View our new infographics, available in accessible formats, for a snapshot of the programs' reach. As Global Impact readers, we invite you to encourage students with disabilities from your country to apply. Find a list of participating FLEX countries and YES countries here.
Across 20 different countries, the 2016 WILD women have hosted intensive trainings, addressing pressing issues facing women with disabilities in their local communities. This collection of photos introduces the unique aspects of each national training, while emphasizing the shared goal of empowering women with disabilities across the globe to be Loud Proud and Passionate®! From self-defense training in Ethiopia, to boat rides in Nepal, to reproductive rights workshops in Colombia, join us in celebrating and learning from these powerful women!
By venturing to other countries, people with disabilities have demonstrated to themselves - and the world - that they are independent and successful, resilient and adaptable. They've gone on to work in the fields of disability advocacy, international education, journalism, and more. Their stories show how going abroad impacts their #LifeAfterExchange - that is, their careers, skill sets, and personal development.
Be sure to browse our resources for connecting disability, international exchange and employability at our #LifeAfterExchange page, including digital postcards we've generated for people with disabilities who want to commemorate the impact of a past international exchange experience. View the collection of postcards here, with text-based descriptions included.
