U.S. Senate hearing on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - call to action by P&O community
Al Ingersoll
Description
Collection
Title:
U.S. Senate hearing on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - call to action by P&O community
Creator:
Al Ingersoll
Date:
11/6/2013
Text:
6 November 2013
Dear P&O colleagues,
Yesterday, in front of a huge crowd of people, the United States Senate
Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing in an attempt to move forward
U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD).
For many years the U.S. was considered to be the world leader in advancing
rights for people with disabilities, a fact that is no longer true because
of the inability of the U.S. to ratify the CRPD. Ratification will give the
U.S. a voice at the table of countries working to advance all the important
issues in the Disability community; of which Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O)
is part of. Additionally, this position is appointed by the President and
reports to Congress; and we all know how difficult it is for Prosthetists &
Orthotists to be heard by the President and/or any agency of the U.S.
Government.
The hearing was chaired by Senator Robert Menendez and notable Senators on
the committee include: John McCain, Barbara Boxer, Robert Corker, Richard
Durbin, Marco Rubio and others. Some of the panelists presenting at
yesterday’s hearing included Senator Kelly Ayotte, Senator Mark Kirk, and
Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge,
former U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh.
Many letters of support were presented, including a very moving letter from
former Senator Bob Dole. Congresswoman Duckworth mentioned P&O numerous
times and she and Senator Kirk described the rehab they still do at Walter
Reed National Military Medical Center and how they are moved by seeing
injured soldiers regain function through use of P&O devices. Additionally it
was stated that globally 1 billion people have a disability, with 57.8
million in the U.S. and of those 5.5 million are veterans.
Also stated during the hearing was the fact that over 700 U.S. organizations
have presented statements in support of CRPD ratification. After the
hearing I searched to see if any U.S. P&O (or affiliated) organizations have
sent letters of support (or opposition). It appears NONE have (please let
me know if incorrect), and I hope we can change this before the Senate vote
anticipated yet this year.
Numerous ways to show support for the CRPD are possible: contact the US
Senate Foreign Relations committee and your Senator and Congressional
representative; send a letter of support through www.disabilitytreaty.org
[ <URL Redacted> and pass on this information to others.
For those unfamiliar with the CRPD, its history in the U.S. and why it is so
important for all of us involved in Healthcare / Disability / P&O and
affiliated fields, please visit www.disabilitytreaty.org
[ <URL Redacted> or do your own search for more
information.
Thank you for taking time to consider!
Take care,
Al Ingersoll CP (U.S.)
Dear P&O colleagues,
Yesterday, in front of a huge crowd of people, the United States Senate
Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing in an attempt to move forward
U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD).
For many years the U.S. was considered to be the world leader in advancing
rights for people with disabilities, a fact that is no longer true because
of the inability of the U.S. to ratify the CRPD. Ratification will give the
U.S. a voice at the table of countries working to advance all the important
issues in the Disability community; of which Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O)
is part of. Additionally, this position is appointed by the President and
reports to Congress; and we all know how difficult it is for Prosthetists &
Orthotists to be heard by the President and/or any agency of the U.S.
Government.
The hearing was chaired by Senator Robert Menendez and notable Senators on
the committee include: John McCain, Barbara Boxer, Robert Corker, Richard
Durbin, Marco Rubio and others. Some of the panelists presenting at
yesterday’s hearing included Senator Kelly Ayotte, Senator Mark Kirk, and
Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge,
former U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh.
Many letters of support were presented, including a very moving letter from
former Senator Bob Dole. Congresswoman Duckworth mentioned P&O numerous
times and she and Senator Kirk described the rehab they still do at Walter
Reed National Military Medical Center and how they are moved by seeing
injured soldiers regain function through use of P&O devices. Additionally it
was stated that globally 1 billion people have a disability, with 57.8
million in the U.S. and of those 5.5 million are veterans.
Also stated during the hearing was the fact that over 700 U.S. organizations
have presented statements in support of CRPD ratification. After the
hearing I searched to see if any U.S. P&O (or affiliated) organizations have
sent letters of support (or opposition). It appears NONE have (please let
me know if incorrect), and I hope we can change this before the Senate vote
anticipated yet this year.
Numerous ways to show support for the CRPD are possible: contact the US
Senate Foreign Relations committee and your Senator and Congressional
representative; send a letter of support through www.disabilitytreaty.org
[ <URL Redacted> and pass on this information to others.
For those unfamiliar with the CRPD, its history in the U.S. and why it is so
important for all of us involved in Healthcare / Disability / P&O and
affiliated fields, please visit www.disabilitytreaty.org
[ <URL Redacted> or do your own search for more
information.
Thank you for taking time to consider!
Take care,
Al Ingersoll CP (U.S.)
Citation
Al Ingersoll, “U.S. Senate hearing on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - call to action by P&O community,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/235829.
