International Development

A listing of content on the site related to international development.

Milestones: 1755-2003

The following international timeline is based on a review of independent living literature and research conducted by Anne Finger, who served as the 1999 Independent Living Research Fellow for the World Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation International, funded by the NIDRR grant, International disability Exchanges and Studies 2000. Finger’s work was supplemented by contributions of many of the 110 disability leaders who participated in the Independent Living Summit held in Washington, D.C. in September 1999 and by Barbara Duncan of Rehabilitation International, and Kathy Martinez, Marc Behrendt and Bruce Curtis of the World Institute on Disability.

Download Free TXT: Mass Media and Disability

 

Timeline of the International Independent Living Movement: An Analysis

In the future, it is hoped this unique timeline will serve as a research tool. This analysis, however, is informal, designed to draw attention to two phenomena: 1) a pattern of development which suggests precursors or prerequisites to an identifiable independent living movement in the various countries; and 2) certain clusters of activities at given points in time which illustrate the influence of external political events and/or the growing international and regional collaboration within the international independent living movement.

Beijing +5 Report

An estimated 10,000 women representing their governments or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) descended on New York City in early June to make their voices heard in the United Nations "Beijing+5" meetings. Among them was a small dedicated group of 65 women with disabilities from 31 countries around the world were among them, participating in both the overall activities and in a unique training program.

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International Program

WID's International Program provides training and technical assistance to disabled persons organizations (DPOs) in developing countries to conduct effective disability advocacy, community barrier removal and public education campaigns; develops programs and national policies; and creates networks and national coalitions to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society.

WID Programs

The mission of the World Institute on Disability (WID) in communities and nations worldwide is to eliminate barriers to full social integration and increase employment, economic security and health care for persons with disabilities. WID creates innovative programs and tools; conducts research, public education, training and advocacy campaigns; and provides technical assistance. An internationally recognized public policy center founded in 1983 by leaders of the Independent Living Movement, WID's program work focuses on issues and problems that directly affect people’s ability to live full and independent lives. A majority of the Board and staff are persons with disabilities.

About WID

The mission of the World Institute on Disability (WID) in communities and nations worldwide is to eliminate barriers to full social integration and increase employment, economic security and health care for persons with disabilities. WID creates innovative programs and tools; conducts research, public education, training and advocacy campaigns; and provides technical assistance. An internationally recognized public policy center founded in 1983 by leaders of the Independent Living Movement, WID's program work focuses on issues and problems that directly affect people’s ability to live full and independent lives. A majority of the Board and staff are persons with disabilities.

International Development and Disability

WID is committed to helping disability organizations in other countries create networks, programs and services that promote the full inclusion of disabled people. International activities include training, technical assistance, program development and evaluation, legislative and policy development, exchange programs, research, conferences, materials development and international resource and referral. DisabilityWorld.org (www.disabilityworld.org), published by WID since 2000, is the leading international online periodical focused on disability issues worldwide.

DisabilityWorld

DisabilityWorld features a wide variety of news reports, international studies and research, new projects, interviews, book and film reviews. The majority of articles address disability-related developments in a particular country concerning social change through advocacy, self-help and building alliances; employment and entrepreneurial initiatives; technology and accessibility; governance, legislation and policies; and attitude change through mass media and the arts.

Download general information about WID and WID's programs (TXT format)

 

Download Free TXT: Executive Summary of Attending to America

 

International Program

WID is committed to helping disability organizations in other countries create networks, programs and services that promote the full inclusion of disabled people, and so acts as a center for the international exchange of information and expertise on disability and disability policy. International activities include training, technical assistance, program development and evaluation, legislative and policy development, exchange programs, research, conferences, materials development and international resource and referral.

Accessible Housing Database and Manual

The goal of the Accessible Housing Database package is to provide a tool with which Independent Living Centers can track accessible rental housing in their community, and from which officials and advocates can draw data in order to assess affordability and availability of accessible housing.

The New Generation of Disability Leaders: Alicia Contreras & Mohammed Loutfy

Not only has a new leadership generation emerged, the traditional boundaries of the movement are being breeched by two dynamic individuals that show that disability discrimination and oppression are a human rights issue that touches all corners of the globe and requires a united front including all people of the world.

Kathleen Martinez Appointed Executive Director of World Institute on Disability

"We are very proud that Kathy Martinez will be the organization's Executive Director and confident that this well known disability rights and policy specialist will lead us in exciting new directions," announced Dr. Stanley Yarnell, Chairman of the Board of the World Institute on Disability. She was appointed by the Board following the resignation of Mark Breimhorst in July.

Resolution on Personal Assistance Services

Passed by Participants of the International Personal Assistance Services Symposium Sponsored by the World Institute on Disability Convened September 29 to October 1, 1991 in Oakland, California, USA

Conference Participants

 

New WID Project in the Republic of Georgia Builds Wheelchairs and Removes Barriers

WID's International Program launched in 2009 a 3-year project in the Republic of Georgia in partnership with Whirlwind Wheelchair International (WWI) and the Coalition for Independent Living in Georgia, along with their regional member organizations, the Association of Disabled Women and Mothers of Disabled Children in Zugdidi and the Association of Gori Disabled Club, to set up a sustainable wheelchair production and repair facility in Tbilisi.

EQUITY Program of the Month

SAVE THE DATE! Please join the World Institute on Disability and our conference partners at the first all-day pre-conference focusing on international asset building strategies for people with disabilities!

Download Free TXT: PAS Systems Change: A Workbook

 

Kathleen Martinez, WID Executive Director, Tapped by White House as New DOL Assistant Secretary

World Institute on Disability proudly announces swearing in of Executive Director Kathleen Martinez as Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). ODEP was established to bring permanent focus within the U.S. Department of Labor and across the Federal government to address barriers to employment facing people with disabilities and to better coordinate matters affecting employment of Americans with disabilities. Martinez was appointed WID’s Executive Director in 2005, after serving as Deputy Director since 2002.

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Year in Review: World Institute on Disability’s 2009 Accomplishments

The World Institute on Disability’s vision is a world where people with disabilities live fully integrated lives economically and socially. As an internationally recognized public policy center organized by and for people with disabilities, WID’s mission in communities and nations worldwide is to eliminate barriers to full social integration and increase employment, economic security, and health care for persons with disabilities.

Ed Roberts Campus

WID is a proud Partner Agency of the Ed Roberts Campus (ERC), a nonprofit (501c3) corporation formed by seven disability organizations that share a common history in the Independent Living Movement of People with Disabilities to create an international center for the Independent Living Movement. This summer, WID will move its offices to the universally designed, transit-oriented campus, located at Berkeley, California's Ashby Bay Area Rapid Transit Station. This multi-modal transit orientation will allow WID staff and visitors easy access to local airports, buses, taxis and paratransit services and provide unprecedented access to all ERC organizations, activities and services.

International Development

A listing of content on the site related to international development.

The International Economic Development Council's 2008 Annual Conference (Atlanta, GA, from 2008-10-19 to 2008-10-22)

 

World Institute on Disability (WID): a nonprofit public policy center working for policy solutions for people with disabilities

Marisa Lianggamphai, WID Communications Coordinator, supplies an answer to the popular question of, "What is WID?" Find out more about WID's programs and goals to help people with disabilities through policy work.

Creating Advocates for Inclusive Education in Russia, the Caucasus and Uzbekistan

Building on 13 years of experience working in Russia, WID recently trained and supported young disabled activists from disability nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Uzbekistan. WID, in partnership with the Russian disability NGO Perspektiva, worked to empower disabled youths, parents and other members of the community to challenge discrimination and eliminate social and physical barriers to an equal education for children with disabilities.

Capitalizing Ability

Patti Lind, The Abilities Fund, provides an essential call to action for public and private entities to collaboratively support the rapidly growing market of entrepreneurs with disabilities.

EQUITY Feature Article

As EQUITY begins its sixth year as the leading disability asset building publication, we revisit the historical landscape which led to this ground breaking publication!

Directory of Publicly Funded PAS Programs

The data in this page is derived from WID's 1999 Survey of Publicly Funded PAS programs. To gather this data we mailed out a survey and held telephone interviews with respondents at all the PAS programs we could locate. Although our response rate was quite good, some programs did refuse to participate, and there are likely to be others that we did not identify as part of the sample, so even though this list represents our best effort, it may not be an exhaustive list of all PAS programs in the country.

Benefits to Inclusion: A New Market in People with Disabilities

Megan O'Neil, Access to Assets Project Coordinator, summarizes a roundtable discussion that focused on the stereotypes, barriers, as well as the financial incentives of including people with disabilities in asset building programs. The roundtable was coordinated by the World Institute on Disability and included Jeanne Argoff, Disability Funders Network; Steve Mendelsohn, Law, Health Policy & Disability Center, University of Iowa College of Law; and Deborah Kaplan, Kathy Martinez, Kevin Dalcamo, and Megan O'Neil, World Institute on Disability.

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Making the Connections: Empowering Faith-based Asset Builders to Serve People with Disabilities

Omar Khan, World Institute on Disability, discusses the challenges faced by faith-based organizations wanting to address poverty issues and offers suggestions on building their capacity to serve people with disabilities.

Download Free TXT: Policy Issues Affecting the Medicaid Personal Care Option Benefit

 

"Building Assets for All": Council on Foundations Annual Conference

Deborah Kaplan, Executive Director of the World Institute on Disability, facilitated the "Building Assets for All" panel that included Robert Friedman, CFED, Sharon Drake, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, and Mary Jo Mullen, F.B. Heron Foundation. Kaplan reports on the commitment of the asset building community to include people with disabilities in existing programs.

Disabled Businesspersons Association: Offering Assistance Every Step of the Way

Urban Miyares, nationally recognized businessman, entrepreneur, and disabled Vietnam veteran, discusses how DBA is filling the void for comprehensive entrepreneurial advice for people with disabilities.

WID Staff

WID Staff

2006 Annual REACH Awards Dinner

On Saturday, November 4, 2006, Community Development and Financial Resources, Inc. (CDFR), an affiliate of Communities United Credit Union, will sponsor the 2nd Annual REACH Awards Dinner.

Reaching the Latino Disability Community

Eight steps for both asset building programs and disability organizations to reach Latinos with disabilities.

Linking Women with Disabilities to Employment Opportunities and Resources

Fully indexed and comprises the following in-depth chapters: women's employment, disability & employment, general employment, aging & older workers, self-employment & small business, accommodation & technology, benefits & transition to work, training & career development for Native Americans, independent living centers, research & policy, internships and educational opportunities, youth initiatives, health & safety, health resources for Native Americans, newsletters, book, reports & publications, videos and cyber resources.

Contact Us

Contact the International Development and Disability Program.

Mobility International USA (MIUSA)

 

International Disability and Development

 

International Development and Disability

 

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523 (202) 712-4080 (phone) (202) 216-3351 (fax)