NOD News
Statement from NOD Chairman Tom Ridge on Senate’s Failure to Ratify Disability Rights Convention
December 5, 2012, New York, NY – Governor Tom Ridge, chairman of the National Organization on Disability (NOD) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate’s failure yesterday to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD):
“I am disappointed in the Senate’s failure to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The CRPD embodies the protections and opportunities available through the Americans with Disabilities Act, but on a global scale. CRPD is a treaty created by the United Nations that protects the rights of people living with disabilities, including: equal treatment and non-discrimination in access to justice, health, education, employment, and rehabilitation. Failure of the Senate to ratify the CRPD only strengthens NOD’s resolve to dispel the myths offered by the opposition and secure ratification of the CRPD in the next session of Congress. We thank those Senators who voted in favor of the CRPD.”
Ratification of the CRPD treaty is supported by over 300 disability organizations, 21 veterans’ organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and many other national leaders and organizations.
- CRPD would have improved access for disabled veterans and other Americans with disabilities that live, work, or travel abroad.
- The treaty is critical to maintaining America’s leadership role on disability rights and to eliminating disability discrimination throughout the world.
- Ratification of the CRPD treaty would present the opportunity for a reaffirmation of the values that we hold near and dear in this country.
About NOD
The National Organization on Disability (NOD) is a private, non-profit organization that promotes the full participation of America’s 56 million people with disabilities in all aspects of life. The organization's current focus is on increasing employment opportunities for the 79 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities who are not employed. Current employment programs benefit individuals with disabilities looking for employment, high school students with disabilities transitioning into the workforce, seriously wounded, ill and injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and employers seeking to become more diverse by expanding existing diversity initiatives to include people with disabilities. For more information about NOD, visit www.NOD.org.
