A New Year & A New Look for Our USICD Newsletter!!
Share the Love this Month & Invite Your Friends to Join USICD!
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Become a Member of USICD
Every February we launch our annual membership drive. Today, we are kicking off our "50 in February" challenge. Please invite your friends and colleagues to join USICD!

By joining USICD, you are strengthening our vast domestic and international network of advocates and people who care about global disability rights and inclusion.

Volunteer with USICD

USICD is seeking skilled volunteers! Join our volunteer conference call to learn about available volunteer opportunities.

When: 13 February
Time: 3:00 PM EST
Conference Call #: 202-871-8699
RSVP: info@usicd.org

CART will be provided upon request. Please contact USICD to request CART.
USICD Projects
As part of the RightsNow! project, USICD provides technical assistance and develops content for the Global Disability Rights Now! website. The site provides helpful information for disability rights advocates in developing countries on implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in their country.

Disability Inclusion in Policy Project
USICD has new information for advocates seeking to urge bilateral and multilateral international development agencies to improve disability inclusion in the projects they implement in developing countries.

We have consolidated many internal policies from major bilateral and multilateral international development organizations. You can browse through these policies, organized alphabetically by the name of each bilateral or multilateral agency.

Tip: The first link for each agency will take you to a page that can help you determine whether that agency funds or coordinate any projects in your country.

These policies have been gathered as part of a broader review of factors that impact disability inclusion in bilateral and multilateral international development agencies and the projects they coordinate or fund in developing countries. This review process has also included interviewing contacts at the World Bank and UNICEF to learn how policies have impacted implementation in the field.
USICD Training and Technical Assistance
USICD offers training and technical assistance in the following areas:

  • Disability inclusion in the workplace throughout the full employment cycle--recruitment, screening, hiring, employing interns and permanent staff with disabilities
  • Disability inclusion throughout the full project cycle in international development projects--project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation

USICD also provides training or presentations on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Contact USICD to learn more!
News, Events & Opportunities!
Newspaper and coffee mug
Events and Opportunities!
United Nations 2018 Events
CRPD Update:
  • 175 ratifications/accessions and 160 signatories to the CRPD
  • 92 ratifications/accessions and 92 signatories to its Optional Protocol (OP)
High Level Political Forum 2018 Banner
Logo in blue shows a long curve tracing the shape of a hand from its little finger to its thumb with the letters Hi inside resembling the three fingers in between followed by the name humanity and inclusion in all lower case letters
Congratulations to Humanity & Inclusion!!
The organization formerly known as Handicap International has a new name-- Humanity & Inclusion. The mission of Humanity & Inclusion--a USICD member organization--remains the same as always.

United 2026 Bid's Human Rights Stakeholder workshop.

On 10 January, USICD joined over 60 individuals from 25 NGOs and trade unions, 3 governments, and 3 universities to represent the disability community in the convening of subject matter experts in areas where risks to human rights are most salient with respect to staging and hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Senator Bob Dole Receives Congressional Gold Medal
Senator Bob Dole Receives the Congressional Gold Medal

USICD extends its hearty congratulations to former Senator Bob Dole for receiving the Congressional Gold Medal on 17 January, 2018.

We deeply appreciate Senator Bob Dole for his lifetime commitment to disability rights, including his work on the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Global Disability Rights Library Fundraiser
We have launched a fundraising campaign to raise funds for the Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) Project. Click the "Donate" button to learn more!