ZemiTek’s Post

The World Institute on Disability is excited to share "#NothingWithoutUs" the newly released USAID #DisabilityPolicy! Led by the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation, Inclusive Development Hub (DDI/ID), and Agency #DisabilityRights Coordinator Kathy Guernsey, this is the long-awaited update to their 1997 Disability Policy. Nothing Without Us "reinforces USAID’s commitment to championing disability-inclusive development and the rights of persons with disabilities". Thank you to all who have worked so hard on this important work that defines the commitment to "intentional, sustainable, and meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of USAID’s work". Office of Press Relations For Immediate Release October 31, 2024 PRESS RELEASE USAID Announces New Disability Policy Today, USAID announced the release of the new 2024 Nothing Without Us: USAID Disability Policy. There are more than 1.3 billion persons with disabilities around the world – 80 percent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. Any issue that affects humans – climate change, hunger, disease – often disproportionately affects persons with disabilities. Intentional, sustainable, and meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of USAID’s work is therefore no longer an option – it is essential to realize our potential and meet our development goals. The 2024 Policy is a comprehensive update to the 1997 USAID Disability Policy in response to stakeholder feedback and changes in the 21st century. At its core, the Policy reinforces USAID’s commitment to championing disability-inclusive development and the rights of persons with disabilities. The Policy, upheld by seven key operating principles, seeks to empower and elevate the lives of persons with disabilities by ensuring that USAID and our partners recognize, respect, value, meaningfully engage, include, and are intentional in supporting persons with disabilities and their representative organizations. The Policy: Updates our framework of understanding disability to a social and rights-based framework in which the goal is to remove societal barriers to participation of persons with disabilities in their communities; Promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities both in wider USAID programming and in activities focused specifically on persons with disabilities; Underscores the importance of working with persons with disabilities and local disability-led groups across all phases of the program cycle; Highlights promising approaches to disability inclusion in the full range of USAID programming areas. The Policy is available at: https://lnkd.in/eWBHxsGu

October is National Disability Awareness Month. Today you told me I am not enough. This is a common statement I hear from those with a disability. Why? Their employer is forcing them back to the office whether it be Hybrid or RTO. As a company you are celebrating your awards for DEI, yet the disabled employees feel forgotten. Many disabled people thrive in remote work. They have been more productive, been able to be themselves, less stress and unnecessary situations that exacerbate their symptoms. Disabled people need to be able to work with dignity. As a reminder 25% of the working age population lives with a disability. These cannot be addressed with something as simple as a desk setup. Remote work is a disability rights issue. #remotework #disability #neurodiversity

LIVING WITH DISABILITY, ADDRESSING THE GAPS & CHALLENGES As a member of the disability community, I want to shine a light on the persistent challenges many of us face daily. While progress has been made in advocating for our rights, significant gaps remain in our laws and policies. 1. Gaps in Legislation: Many countries have laws that aim to protect and empower individuals with disabilities, yet these laws often lack the necessary enforcement mechanisms. This results in lack of accountability for organizations and institutions that fail to meet accessibility standards - like what we are experiencing in Kenya. 2. Slow Implementation of Disability Mainstreaming: Despite commitments to mainstream disability in development agendas, we often see delays in translating these commitments into actionable policies. This slow pace hinders the integration of necessary support systems that could empower individuals with disabilities to fully participate in society. 3. Lack of Political Goodwill: Perhaps the most frustrating challenge is the lack of political goodwill. Without genuine commitment from leadership, initiatives to improve accessibility, inclusivity, and support systems remain underfunded and inadequately prioritized. It’s crucial that we raise our voices and advocate for meaningful change. Let’s work together to ensure that the rights of individuals with disabilities are not just acknowledged for cheap political expediency, but actively protected and implemented. Disability:IN Disability Rights Fund ILO Global Business and Disability Network National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) DLT Valley® Sahebe Mehmannavaz #DisabilityRights | #DisabilityInclusion | #DisabilityAdvocacy | #Accessibility | #SocialChange

The Fred Hollows Foundation has joined our calls to DFAT for greater action on #disabilityequity in their upcoming International Disability Equity and Rights strategy. Fred Hollows CEO Ian Wishart says, “There are 1.1 billion people worldwide living with some form of vision loss because they don’t have access to basic eye care services. When a person has a disability, vision loss compounds the challenges they face.    The Fred Hollows Foundation and other development organisations work every day to support people who struggle to access health services, and we work alongside people with disabilities to understand their experiences and challenges.      Currently, only half of Australian aid promotes disability equity. The upcoming International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy (IDEARS) presents a pivotal moment to champion rights and forge true partnerships with people with disabilities.     Now is the time for Australia to ramp up its leadership role by resourcing ambitious approaches that translate commitments into sustained, on-the-ground impact. Let's ensure IDEARS is ambitious, accountable, and well-resourced.    Together, we can turn commitments into impactful change for the people with disabilities, who are among the poorest and most marginalised in communities around the world".    Join ADDC and our partners in the disability sector in calling for greater action on advancing #disabilityequity across the Indo-Pacific https://bit.ly/3V2Kfdc 

The Government has released its official response to the report on the purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support Pension (DSP). People with Disability Australia (PWDA), ACOSS and disability advocacy organisations including Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) have expressed alarm at the Government’s dismissal of the report’s recommendations and called for urgent action to address barriers to accessing the DSP, the risk of poverty for recipients and to reform how eligibility is assessed and avenues for dispute resolution. Read the full statement here: https://buff.ly/3Z4iqEK The statement has been endorsed by: People with Disability Australia, Australian Autism Alliance, Australian Council of Social Service, Community Mental Health Australia, Children and Young People with Disability Australia, Disability Advocacy Network Australia, Down Syndrome Australia, First Peoples Disability Network, Inclusion Australia, National Ethnic Disability Alliance, and Women with Disabilities Australia. [Image Description: This tile has a purple to blue gradient background, with a white banner at the bottom showing the People with Disability Australia logo and the purple WWDA logo. Large white text in the middle reads: “Statement: Disability community organisations condemn government failure to act on DSP Senate Inquiry Report”. A white line drawing of two hands protecting a heart symbol is shown in the top-right corner.] #JointStatement #DisabilityRights #DisabilitySupport #PolicyInclusion

📢 Are you a policymaker or professional working with crisis preparedness? The Nordic-Baltic meeting on disability policy and practice in Tallinn on 17–18 September will focus on accessible crisis preparedness and crisis communication. 🦽 The meeting will feature presentations on strategies and practical examples from the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, the EU, and international and national disability organizations. 📑 Register before 27 August to take part in the meeting. #CrisisPreparedness #CrisisCommunication #disability #accessibility #NordicWelfare

Today on the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), we’re raising awareness and reaffirming our commitment to empower people. Every day, millions encounter barriers most of us don’t even notice. Imagine this: ☕ You head to your local café for a morning coffee, but there’s no ramp to get inside. 🚋 You want to catch a train on your own, but the signs are not available in Braille 😔 You’ve just started a new job, but the workplace isn’t sensory-friendly and you feel overwhelmed. For 1 in 6 Australians who are living with a disability, these aren’t hypotheticals, it's their reality. Supports like the NDIS have been a huge step forward, but there’s still work to be done to ensure everyone feels included in their communities. At Leora Healthcare, inclusion is a way of life. We provide disability accommodation that's both accessible and empowering. We advocate for person-centred care because everyone deserves the support they need to live a fulfilling and independent life. And we celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities by giving them the space to be able to tell their own stories. What can you do today? 🙋♂️ Ask: how accessible is my workplace, school or neighbourhood? 👂 Listen: create space for the voices of people living with disability 👨🦽 Act: support businesses and organisations that prioritise inclusion We envision a world where everyone has the opportunity to live their best life! #InclusionMatters #IDPwD #DisabilitySupport #LeoraHealthcare [Image description: A 3D illustration of people with disabilities alongside a photo of a person with a disability sitting beside a loved one. Text reads: International Day of People with Disability, 3 December.]

October marks Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). A focus on #DisabilityInclusion not only drives business results as shown in higher revenue and profits for companies that prioritize disability inclusion, it also helps foster a workplace which is open, inclusive, and equitable. Since the start of the pandemic, we've seen a marked increase in the employment of those with disabilities; driven by many factors including flexible and remote work allowing more individuals to find equitable employment, to new accessibility legislation, and build out of more inclusive company strategies such as disability focused business resource groups and enhanced workplace policies. This year's focus of DEAM is Turning the Tide: The Ripple Effect of Disability Inclusion, and shows the great impact of those with disabilities have. But more progress is needed and, with recent changes in the labor market, we can't lose focus on progress we've made and must continue to push for policies and approaches which are inclusive for all. Learn more about DEAM from Disability:IN: https://lnkd.in/dknWkC2v? #DEAM #NDEAM #DEI #Accessibility

#DisabilityPrideMonth is celebrated every July and is an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. Why July? It marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that broke down barriers to inclusion in society. Right now, 85% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are unemployed. Many of them want to work and have skills to contribute. Among those who are employed, people with IDD are working fewer than 13 hours a week on average, and less than one-fifth of them are getting workplace benefits. However, research shows that disability inclusion is a proven good business decision. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gaBcU2rm.

"Disabilities are not one size fits all." "Disability is vast, varied, and beautiful." "I can do hard and sometimes extreme things." "We are independent and creative in how we have adapted to a world made for able-bodied people." "Our disabilities are not flaws to be fixed, but integral parts of our identities that shape our unique perspectives and strengths." At Melwood, we love hearing from and elevating the voices of the disability community. Join the conversation. On this second to last day of Disability Pride Month, read this piece by NPR readers, then tell us what you want others to know about people with disabilities or the disability community! https://lnkd.in/eeR-p_dU #Disability #DisabilityPrideMonth