UN consultation on disability inclusion--the perspective of deaf people and sign language linguists is needed

[Albert Bickford]

Dear colleagues:

(Before you get upset about the use of the word "disabled" on this email 
list, please read on!)

I have just become aware that the UN Department of Economic and Social 
Affairs (UNDESA) and UNICEF are beginning preparations for a high-level 
meeting on disability and development this September. They have 
organized an online forum for preliminary discussion of the matter.  So 
far, the special perspective of deaf people and sign language linguists 
has not been represented.  As a result, there is a distinct possibility 
that approaches and strategies proposed for persons with disabilities 
generally may be misapplied to deaf people, ignoring the crucial role 
that sign language plays in the lives of deaf people and deaf communities.

I believe that people on this forum may want to express their views in 
the online consultation that is currently taking place.  See the email 
quoted below for details on how to participate.

Please note that discussion closes in just a couple days, so if you want 
to say something, act now.

-- 

Albert Bickford
SIL International
   Linguistic Services Coordinator, Global Sign Languages Team
   Director, SIL-UND

Please use different email addresses for different topics:
   sign languages: linguistic_services_gslt at sil.org
   SIL-UND: director_silund at sil.org
   other: albert_bickford at sil.org

late May through early August:
   2901 University Ave Stop 8217, Grand Forks ND 58202; 701-777-0575
mid-August through mid-May:
   16131 N. Vernon Dr., Tucson AZ 85739; 520-825-1229

-------

Dear members of the  WorldWeWant2015.org  <http://worldwewant2015.org/>  website,

In many countries, the realization of the Millennium Development Goals 
(MDGs) has not been achieved for persons with disabilities. This clearly 
highlights the importance of ensuring that development processes are 
inclusive of persons with disabilities and their perspectives for the 
still ongoing efforts to accelerate and expand progress on the MDGs and 
in the definition of the new development framework that will succeed the 
MDGs, after 2015.

On 23 September 2013, the UN General Assembly will hold a High-level 
Meeting on disability and development, with the overarching theme/"The 
way forward: a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and 
beyond"/, at UN Headquarters in New York.

To ensure that the post-2015 agenda is inclusive of disability, the UN 
Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF 
is holding an online moderated consultation to gather views from a broad 
range of stakeholders on how to include disability in the post-2015 
development framework, in order to contribute to the ongoing work for 
the High-level Meeting.

Building on the earlier online discussion on "Addressing Inequalities 
and Persons with Disabilities in the Post-2015 development agenda", held 
on this site in November (read thesummary report here 
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fnode%2F304822%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>:http://www.worldwewant2015.org/node/304822 
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fnode%2F304822%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>) 
this consultation aims to take a closer look at the particular 
challenges faced by per! sons with disabilities in different regions, 
and identify the specific measures and actions to be taken by different 
stakeholders to promote a disability-inclusive society and development.

In this context, we would like to invite you take part in this online 
consultation, starting on*8 March***and running for three weeks until*28 
March*.

*To participate, please visit the site****www.worldwewant2015.org/enable 
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fenable%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>****and 
log-in or register here 
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fregister%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>***(http://www.worldwewant2015.org/register 
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fregister%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20W%21%20orldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>). 
Simultaneous consultations will take place in English, Arabic, Chinese, 
French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. The site is compatible with 
screen readers, however, if you are unable to access the site, please 
email your response to:enable at worldwewant2015.org 
<mailto:enable at worldwewant2015.org?subject=RE%3A%20INVITATION%3A%20Online%20consultation%20for%20a%20disability%20inclusive%20development%20agenda%20towards%202015%20%26%20beyond>. 
Please note that the forum is moderated, therefore your post will not 
appear immediately but will be posted within twenty-four hours.

The recommendations emerging from your contributions will be 
incorporated into a report on the consultations to inform the 
preparation of the outcome document for the UN High-level Meeting on 23 
September 2013.

The consultation aims to be as broad and open as possible, in order to 
enable a multitude of voices to be heard from Governments, UN system 
organizations, academia, media, private sector and civil society 
organizations, including persons with disabilities and their 
organizations (DPOs).

Please invite your colleagues, partners and networks to participate!

Warm regards,

*United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and 
UNICEF in collaboration with the United Nations Promoting the Rights of 
Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD)*

Contact: enable at worldwewant2015.org 
<mailto:enable at worldwewant2015.org?subject=INVITATION%3A%20Online%20consultations%20for%20a%20disability%20inclusive%20development%20agenda%20towards%202015%20and%20beyond%20>

Discussion web site:http://www.worldwewant2015.org/enable 
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=64945919&msgid=483543&act=M3EP&c=1000518&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwewant2015.org%2Fenable%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DInequalities%3A%20WorldWeWant2015%26utm_content%3D>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/slling-l/attachments/20130325/54c30484/attachment.htm>