Our Common Humanity in the Information Age. Principles and Values for Development
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INCLUSION OF THE DISABLED
Robert H. Nagel, ICT Specialist, Chairman, eSecureDocs, Inc. UN in its entirety has shown great partnership on the preparatory phases of the Convention on Disabilities. Many changes have taken place in the four years of preparations for the Convention. A portion of the UN web site called “enable” allows people with disabilities to follow events of the Ad Hoc Committee on Disability from around the world. The Secretariat has taken steps to improve access and services for all people with disabilities. Security clearance is easier. A section has been set aside for people in wheelchairs in the main room, and they can now approach the stage to make a comment. Deaf people have an induction loop that allows them to connect their hearing aids directly to the translation system. Signers are available when they are needed. As a blind person, I can get up-to- date digital copies of documents from the “enable” section of the UN web site so my adaptive technology can read the documents to me. I can also download the actual digital sound recordings of sessions from the FTP UN web site and review the day’s activity from my computer. Braille copies of important documents are made available on a timely basis. These are welcome changes in the physical access to information. Other major inclusive changes have occurred. Movement has been made away from the reliance on experts who talk about people with disabilities to people with disabilities discussing their own relevant experiences. Informal Sessions that were strictly limited to states parties now include people with disabilities. The Inter-Session Drafting Group, which was previously limited to states parties, experts, and international lawyers, now includes many people with disabilities. Our experience and expertise was openly welcomed at all levels of this process. One of the dramatic changes that have occurred is in the membership of the national delegations to the Ad Hoc Committee. I believe it is the sense of our common humanity that has allowed nations with strongly opposing issues, to reach a consensus on this convention. This convention draws its strength from the practice of inclusion, for it is through the practice of inclusion that the manner in which the Ad Hoc Committee on Disabilities interacts with people with disabilities was transformed. In turn, the composition of nation-state delegations to the Chapter VII – Shared Responsibility and Partnerships | 139 Ad Hoc Committee was transformed. I envision this wave of spreading inclusion will transform the way nation-states interact with their own citizens who have disabilities. Although I am speaking to you as a single person with a disability, I am sure that I speak in accord with the 650 million people with life-altering disabilities when I say “Thank You” for this possibility of turning a dream into reality: the dream of inclusion within our own societies through shared responsibility and partnership. The dream of lowering of barriers to the exercise of our civil and political rights … the dream of a world that works for every single person. Download 0.61 Mb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
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