International Development

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

Download Free TXT: The U.S. Role in Disability Activities

 

Download Free PDF: Change from Within

This volume presents the results of a five-year international investigation into disability and governance. It examines three interrelated topics: the impact of disabled individuals who have been elected or appointed to high governmental office; the scope, structure and impact of national disability policy bodies; and the increasing accessibility of the machinery of democracy, especially elections and voting. “Change from Within” is the first international report on this significant topic.

Download Free TXT: Change from Within

This volume presents the results of a five-year international investigation into disability and governance. It examines three interrelated topics: the impact of disabled individuals who have been elected or appointed to high governmental office; the scope, structure and impact of national disability policy bodies; and the increasing accessibility of the machinery of democracy, especially elections and voting. “Change from Within” is the first international report on this significant topic.

Download Free PDF: Technology and Disability Policy: a global glimpse of the future

 

Download Free DOC: Technology and Disability Policy: a global glimpse of the future

 

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.

Program of the Month

The World Institute on Disability, Whirlwind Wheelchair International and the Coalition for Independent Living are implementing a 3-year, USAID funded project with the goal of establishing the Georgian Wheelchair Production Network in the Republic of Georgia.

Download Free TXT: Attending to America

 

Feature

Making International Microfinance Institutions Disability Inclusive: A Call to Action

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.

Download Free PDF: A SIGNIFICANT ALLIANCE: The Independent Living Movement, The Service Employees International Union and the establishment of the first Public Authorities in California

 

Download Free DOC: A SIGNIFICANT ALLIANCE: The Independent Living Movement, The Service Employees International Union and the establishment of the first Public Authorities in California

 

2011 Center on Economic Growth Policy Summit Session I

Session I focused on recommendations from a summit convened in April 2011 regarding needed changes to disability benefits programs to expand employment possibilities for people with disabilities.

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

 

Judith Heumann to Join U.S. State Department in Fulfillment of Obama-Clinton Pledge

Judith Heumann, an international leader in the disability rights movement and a governmental representative to the USICD Board of Directors, will be joining the U.S. Department of State as their Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. This position was announced last summer, when President Obama and Secretary Clinton declared that the United States would sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Heumann resigned her position as Director of the Department on Disability Services for the District of Columbia, and will assume her new position at the Department of State on June 7, 2010.

Download Free TXT: How to Create Disability Access to Technology: Best Practices in Electronic and Information Technology Companies

 

Download Free PDF: How to Create Disability Access to Technology: Best Practices in Electronic and Information Technology Companies

 

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.

Conference Participants

 

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

World Institute on Disability Welcomes John Lancaster to Board of Directors

WID welcomes John Lancaster to our Board of Directors. Active in the development of the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the world, Mr. Lancaster will enrich our organization with his decades of public service and experience promoting disability rights internationally.

Download Free TXT: Liability Issues Affecting Consumer-Directed PAS

 

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.

EQUITY Responds: WID Answers Your Questions

Q: A group of friends and me have for several years participated in a small donors circle in California. We have been considering expanding our efforts internationally where small amounts of money can go further. Is there a way to target disability internationally in low and middle income countries to support entrepreneurial efforts and the local economies?

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

 

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 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 is currently funded by USAID to set up a sustainable wheelchair production and repair facility; a postural support seating and cushion service; a mobility, self-care, and advocacy skills training system for men and women who use wheelchairs; and conduct advocacy, public education, and community accessibility barrier removal activities in the Republic of Georgia.

International Development

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

WID Moves to the Ed Roberts Campus!

On November 15, 2010 WID moved to the Ed Roberts Campus (ERC), named after Ed Roberts, one of our founders, and envisioned as an international center for the Independent Living Movement. Please note our new address and contact information: World Institute on Disability 3075 Adeline Street, Suite 280 Berkeley, CA 94703 Tel: (510) 225-6400 Fax: (510) 225-0477 TTY: (510) 225-0478 www.wid.org

Profile of the Month

My experience using social enterprise as a method for integration, opportunity and prosperity in Azerbaijan

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

 

Whirlwind Wheelchair International

 

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.