Last week, the United Nations held its first-ever high-level meeting to discuss helping people who suffer from disabilities. The event was held at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
More than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from disabilities. Officials said the meeting was convened to encourage inclusion for people with disabilities in all aspects of life. “Far too many people with disabilities live in poverty. Too many suffer from social exclusion. Too many are denied access to education, employment, health care, and social and legal support systems,” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, according to DisabilityScoop.
Ban Ki-moon told leaders at the event to “break barriers and open doors”. Representatives and guests at the event included U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and musician Stevie Wonder. More than 800 people attended.
“I am here before you to ask you to see me,” Loretta Claiborne, a Special Olympics athlete said according to DisabilityScoop. “Recognize me, and those like me, when goals and strategies are set. See not our disability, but what we can contribute if we have access to basic services.”
The U.N. General Assembly, outlining the need for accessibility and inclusion worldwide for the disabled, adopted a document for members to follow. Member U.N. states were also asked to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which calls for greater community access and a better standard of living for people with disabilities around the world, according to DisabilityScoop. Last year, the U.S. signed the treaty, but it has not adopted it.
It is positive that an effort is being made universally to provide access and inclusion to the disabled. Many Americans are proud of the progress this country has made, with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which requires civil rights measures and opportunities for access for people with disabilities.
Many people with disabilities qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you think you may qualify, contact a Tulsa Social Security Disability attorney to help you get the benefits you need. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security Disability lawyers
