What is the Disability Treaty? Why do Americans with disabilities, veterans, faith organizations, and many others want the US to ratify the CRPD? Why should human rights supporters, proponents of equality and social justice, people who care about promoting US business and commerce, and everyone who knows a person with disabilities want US ratification of the CRPD? And how can people help? View this brief slide show and follow the links to learn more.

1. (CRPD = Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities)

2. 
 What the CRPD disability treaty is
 Why US ratification matters
 How to talk to your senators about the CRPD!
 Other ways individuals can help
What is in this slide show?

3. 
 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
 More information at
http://www.disabilitytreaty.org/
 Also, great (captioned) video
webinar on the CRPD.
What is the CRPD?

4. 
 The CRPD was inspired in part by U.S.
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
How Did US Leadership
Help Inspire the CRPD?

5. 
 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.
 Learn more at http://www.disabilitytreaty.org
We Have the ADA.
Why Ratify the CRPD?

6. 
 More than 500 disability organizations support US
ratification of the CRPD
 Also, 22 veterans organizations
 And 26 faith organizations
 See a list of supporting organizations at
http://usicd.org/template/page.cfm?id=252
Who Wants US to Ratify
the CRPD?

7. 
 Want the US to ratify the CRPD? Talk to senators!
 Use the phone, email, postal
mail, Twitter, Facebook, or even a personal visit to
their office!
Talk to Senators!

8. 
 Find contact information for your senators at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_informati
on/senators_cfm.cfm
 Or, download a PDF file with phone, Twitter, and
Facebook information for all US senators
Talk to Senators!

9. 
 “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.
Your Message for Senators

10. 
 Educate your friends and family about the CRPD.
Recruit their support!
 If you use Twitter, then follow and re-tweet @USICD
often. Use the #CRPD hashtag.
 If you use Facebook, “share” the USICD Facebook
page at https://www.facebook.com/usicd
What Else Can I Do to
Help?

11. 
 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 to Susie Richard
srichard@usicd.org: USICD can tweet it for you!
What Else Can I Do to
Help?

12. 
 Find out if YOUR organization has signed on to
support the CRPD! Check the list at
http://usicd.org/template/page.cfm?id=252
 Not on the list? Ask them to consider signing:
Have Your Organization
Sign On!

13. 
 News, updates, and materials for CRPD advocates at
http://www.disabilitytreaty.org
 Great video on the CRPD and campaign for US
ratification—48 minutes with closed captions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4LHXZyHER
U&feature=youtu.be
Useful Web Links