USICD’s Policy Priorities
The membership of USICD believes American disability rights principles should apply to our nation’s foreign assistance. All U.S. Government departments with overseas programs, including the Department of Defense, should adhere to the standards of accessibility found in the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and other provisions of U.S. law, and adopt broad disability inclusion policies and practices.
A comprehensive approach to inclusive foreign operations by the United States must include permanent disability leadership focal point positions within the U.S. Department of State and other departments and agencies with significant international portfolios. The Office of the International Disability Rights Advisor should be established and codified with a mandate to enhance disability rights across the entire U.S. foreign policy community and serve as a resource for other executive departments and agencies that engage in international work.
Specifically, USICD would like to see the following actions:
- Support an Office on International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State.
- Mandate a Special Advisor on International Disability Rights.
- Provide the above office with robust funding and staff.
- Provide robust funding to support disability inclusion in all State Department programs.
The membership of USICD also believe that no government funds should be spent overseas to pay for institutions that segregate people with disabilities from society. Ending the use of foreign assistance programs to segregate people with disabilities from society is a key area for the permanent disability rights and inclusion leadership personnel. USICD continually urges Congress to invest in permanent disability focal points across federal agencies, robust staffing and resources, and the elimination of overseas programs that support institutional segregation. U.S. foreign assistance must reflect the values of equity, accessibility, and full participation for persons with disabilities worldwide.
Finally, all foreign assistance and international development efforts funded by the American people must be accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities