Representation

Representation

At USICD, we amplify the voices of our members by ensuring disability rights perspectives are heard and acted upon—both in the halls of Congress and on the world stage. From delivering official interventions at the United Nations to leading policy briefings on Capitol Hill, the representation of our members elevates lived experience into concrete change.

United Nations Conference of State Parties (COSP)

• USICD organizes a team of advocates (USICD Board members, members, and sponsors) every year for COSP, delivering formal statements on treaty implementation, accessibility, and inclusion.
• We convene side-event panels with member delegates and partner NGOs, ensuring our grassroots expertise informs global standards.

Disabled Peoples International (DPI)

• USICD is the US National Assembly member of DPI.
• USICD’s Executive Director, Isabel Hodge, serves as the Secretary of DPI, and the Vice President of DPI N. America and the Caribbean.
• We serve on steering committees at DPI regional and world assemblies, shaping priorities on leadership development, intersectional advocacy, and cross‐border collaboration. Through formal motions and coalition‐building, we elevate U.S. member concerns on global platforms.

Domestic Advocacy on Capitol Hill

• Congressional Briefings – We host and participate in policy briefings on the Hill, providing Members of Congress and their staff with firsthand testimony from people with disabilities on issues like appropriations, healthcare access, and international development.
• Legislative Meetings – USICD arranges direct meetings between our members and key congressional offices—Senators, Representatives, and committee staff—to advocate for disability‐inclusive foreign assistance, ratification of international treaties, and continued funding for disability rights diplomacy.
• Coalition Building – Partnering with leading national and local disability organizations, we coordinate Hill Days and letter‐writing campaigns that unite diverse voices behind shared legislative priorities.

Member-Centered Impact

• We conduct pre‐conference orientation sessions and post‐event debriefings, ensuring every USICD member delegate is equipped to participate effectively and that their insights shape our next advocacy steps.
• Through secured speaking slots, authored reports, and formal submissions, we transform individual experiences into collective policy recommendations.
• Our ongoing communications keep members informed of representation activities, offer opportunities to join delegations, and provide summaries of key outcomes.

Get Involved

Ready to make your voice heard?

• Become a member of USICD
• Join a USICD delegation at upcoming international meetings.
• As a member, you receive our Hill advocacy alerts to write to and meet with lawmakers.
• Contact us for opportunities to share your expertise and help shape disability rights policy at home and abroad.