NAD - URGENT: Support the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities TODAY!

UPDATE from our friends at USICD: The CRPD markup and vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been rescheduled for the ADA Anniversary date: Thursday, July 26th at 9:30 AM at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, G-50 on Capitol Hill. We need the room filled with advocates on Thursday, July 26th! If you have any disability accommodations requests, please contact [email protected].

URGENT: Calls and E-mails Needed NOW to Support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is an important treaty for our community and we need members of our community to write to their Senators urging them to ratify the CRPD now. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has scheduled a markup and vote on CRPD for Thursday, July 19th, at 9:30AM HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED for Thursday, July 26th at 9:30 AM on Capitol Hill. Last week’s warm reception in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was excellent for supporters of the CRPD, but it also provoked a storm of calls from the opposition led by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association and Rick Santorum, spurred on by inaccurate statements. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW, MORE THAN EVER.

Two reasons why we need your support for CRPD:

1. The CRPD recognizes sign language and deaf culture as human rights, and includes language such as “deaf culture”, “linguistic identity”, and “deaf community.”

2. The United States is currently excluded from the International Committee formed to enforce the requirements of the CRPD throughout the world. If the CRPD is ratified in the U.S., the U.S. will be able to join the global community in efforts to promote, protect, and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

There are 3 easy things you can do TODAY to help support the ratification of CRPD.

1. E-mail or call your Senator RIGHT NOW. Here’s a sample message you can copy and paste.

It’ll take you two minutes to send an e-mail to your Senator right here, right now.

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

RE: Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Hello, my name is [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE].
I stand with the National Association of the Deaf, among several other organizations and advocates, in my strong support of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I am writing to you today to urge you to support the ratification of the CRPD. As your constituent, I request that you support the CRPD at the Committee meeting on July 26th, vote in favor of the treaty in Committee, and move it forward to a floor vote in the Senate.

Thank you,

[INSERT YOUR NAME HERE].
Not sure how to contact your Senator? We’ve included the contact information you’ll need below!

2. Forward this message to everyone you know RIGHT NOW. Tell them to stand with the National Association of the Deaf and to contact their Senators to encourage the ratification of the CRPD. Think family members, co-workers, friends- everyone you know.

3. Near the District, or know someone who lives in the DC area? Sure you do! Tell them to show up at the Committee meeting next Thursday to support CRPD. We need your help- and we’ll see you there!
Date & Time: Thursday, July 26th, 9:30AM
Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building, G-50

Thanks for taking action right now.
Senate Contact Information:

Chairman: Senator John Kerry (D-MA) SUPPORTS CRPD!
(202) 224-4651

Chief counsel: Andrew Keller [email protected] OR www.kerry.senate.gov/contact/

Chief counsel: Andrew Keller

Ranking Member: Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)

(202) 224-6797

Chief counsel: Michael Mattler [email protected] OR www.lugar.senate.gov/contact/

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!

(202) 224-6441

Foreign Relations Legislative Aide: Amber Bland ( [email protected]) OR http://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

(202) 224-3553