40 Big Ideas

Summary

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) protects rights and says that people with disabilities all over the world must be treated with respect and dignity. It is a United Nations agreement that says people with disabilities must have the same opportunities as everyone else. It helps us when we are doing advocacy work, and it reminds organizations and governments about our rights. It also reminds our neighbors, families, teachers, doctors, and others that we have the same dignity and value as all other people. Because it is a global agreement, it helps us understand the ideas and goals that people with disabilities worldwide share.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a United Nations agreement. It is important because it helps protect the rights of people with disabilities. It says that people with disabilities must be treated with respect and dignity, and have the same opportunities as everyone else. It is important for self-advocates to know about the CRPD because it helps us when we are doing advocacy work and reminds organizations and governments about our rights. It also reminds our neighbors, families, teachers, doctors, and others that we have the same dignity and value as all other people.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are using the CRPD to advocate for themselves. Self-advocates speak up for their rights and needs, and make sure that our voices are heard. With CRPD, self-advocates are raising awareness about the importance of inclusion and accessibility, as well as the challenges we face every day. Self-advocates work to create a more inclusive and supportive society, where people with IDDcan thrive. Families advocate for this, too.

The CRPD is important because it says that people with IDD are valuable and deserving of respect, dignity, and equal opportunities. It empowers people with IDD to take control of their lives, make their own choices, and advocate for themselves.

I (Mark) have been using CRPD in my advocacy work. CRPD has been a good tool to use when I am doing training with self-advocates and advocating at international meetings. I learned a lot by using CRPD to educate others on the human rights of self-advocates. I can not advocate without using the CRPD, so it is important to me

The CRPD is important to me (Susan) because it helps me understand the ideas and goals that all disabled people share around the world. It helped me see that my son Charlie could advocate for himself, even though he didn’t use words. Supported decision-making is in the CRPD, and it is important to people who need a lot of support. It helps me think about how my own ideas are changing and how my nation’s systems could be made stronger.

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the basis of the CRPD. It tells us very clearly that "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.” This is what we are trying to do.