Ive traveled to a great number of countries as secretary of state, and Ive seen firsthand that the protection of disability rights is not an abstract concept. Things you can see and touch make a measurable difference for people living with disabilities: things like sidewalks with curb cuts; public buildings with accessible bathrooms; restaurants, stores, hotels and universities with ramps and elevator access; buses with lifts; train platforms with tactile strips.
But in too many countries, what we have done in the United States through theAmericans with Disabilities Act(ADA) which for 25 years this month has protected the19% ofAmericanswith disabilities from disability-based discrimination is far from reality. Children areleft to diebecause of the stigma associated with disability. Adults who are blind or deaf areexcluded from the labor market. Children with disabilities areturned away from schools. Roads and sidewalks are impassable for people using wheelchairs.
That disabled people in the United States have a different fate is due in no small part to the ADA, a piece of legislation won from a historic campaign waged by people with disabilities and their advocates. As a US senator, I was proud to join that campaign and proud to be a co-sponsor.
That historic, bipartisan legislation has played a huge role in making our country more accessible and inclusive. It guarantees our citizens with disabilities equal employment opportunity. It makes our buildings more accessible. And it requires the availability of communication aids that have enabled Americans with disabilities to participate more fully in society.
This has inspired people and governments around the world to see disability through the lens of equality and opportunity. Soon after its passage, other countries began writing and enacting their own laws guaranteeing equal rights and equal access to their citizens with disabilities. The ADA also influenced international organizations such as the Organization of American States and the European Union to address discrimination faced by persons with disabilities. The gold standard we set here in the United States has provided a template for ideas around the world about equal opportunity in education, employment, health, transportation and public access. Most notably, the principles underlying the ADA inspired and are reflected in the 2006UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the worlds first comprehensive global treaty on disability rights.
For all of the impact of the ADA around the world, there is more progress to be made. For one, the US has yet to ratify the convention. President Obama and I will keep fighting until its ratification is achieved, because we need to help push open the door for other interested countries to benefit not just from our example, but from our guidance and expertise.Thats why the State Department is backingMobility International USAs RightsNow! consortium, which is focused on enforcement and implementation of disability rights in Armenia, Kenya, Mexico and Vietnam. And its why were promoting a range of educational and cultural exchange programs focused on disability rights. For example, the alumni of ourMandela Washington Fellowshipprogram are working on a project in Uganda to provide education, language therapy and rehabilitation for children with disabilities from poor families.
