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Year End Message to the members of Inclusion International
[Last updated Monday, January 9, 2006]
As 2005 has come to an end and we look forward to next year, I want to take a few moments to share with you some thoughts about the work of Inclusion International over the past year and what difference I think we have made in the world.
Over the past twelve months I have visited and met families and self-advocates in each of the five regions of our organization. I have been moved by their struggle to overcome barriers in their communities and by their strength and commitment to building inclusive societies. Our greatest asset as an organization is the rich and diverse experience of our members. Their efforts to make a difference in local communities, in schools, with governments, has reinforced my conviction that Inclusion International’s job is to make their stories, their knowledge and their efforts heard in places where decisions are made that impact on their lives.
The most effective way to impact on processes such as the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities and the Millennium Development Goals is to have the voices of self-advocates and families heard. And we are starting to be heard. More and more, our particular issues are being taken into account in the UN Convention negotiations. This is largely because of the testimony given by Council member Robert Martin and the participation of people with complex needs and their families who have been part of our delegations. At the next Meeting of the UN General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee that is responsible for preparing a draft convention, Inclusion International will be represented by self-advocates from four different regions of the world.
We have also begun to influence the global fight against poverty by calling attention to the impact of poverty on the lives of persons with an intellectual disability and their families. We were the first to demonstrate that the Millennium Development Goals to eliminate poverty will not be met if people with disabilities are not included in poverty reduction strategies. The four regional seminars we held this year have helped to highlight this issue and propose solutions. At our next World Congress in Acapulco in November 2006 we will launch our global report on poverty and intellectual disability and adopt a plan of action to guide our work.
Our organization depends heavily on the personal commitment and talent of individuals. We were very saddened at the loss this year of our Council member Kadi Sanogho, one exceptional example of this leadership. We have lost a real champion for Inclusion and a friend to many.
I want to thank the Council of II and the many individuals who dedicate their time pursuing our goals and helping to create a better world for all.
May 2006 be a year of Peace and Inclusion. I look forward to the challenges that we will face together. See you in Acapulco!
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