Ask Your Senator to Support People with Disabilities

Our athletes and others with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) need your help. Did you know that despite significant progress in the United States in the treatment and resources for people with ID, that in many parts of the world they are still denied basic human rights?

Meet Deon — a Special Olympics athlete in Namibia. When he was born in 1978 and doctors saw he had multiple disabilities and some paralysis, they pushed him into a corner and left him to die in infancy. But Deon’s aunt was on the hospital cleaning staff and rescued her young nephew from what could have been fatal neglect. In those years, many other people shared those doctors’ low expectations. As a result, Deon recalls that his childhood and youth were “a bit difficult.” But once he found Special Olympics, he says his life changed “for the better” and “opened doors.” Today, Deon is recognized as a national sports hero across Namibia, where he has contributed immensely to his country by actively advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and serves his community in a variety of different ways.

The fact is, Deon got lucky as an infant that his Aunt worked at the hospital where he was born. Many others with ID in many parts of the world are not as lucky today. The reality is that people with ID are still denied access to health care, inclusion in their communities and schools and denied the opportunity to reach their full potential.

You can help to change this reality right now by joining us in advocating to turn the tide of prejudice and oppression facing those with disabilities.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be voting on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Thursday morning, July 26.

Special Olympics strongly supports sending the convention to the Senate floor for a full vote and is issuing a call for grassroots support to urge Senators to vote yes.

You can help by calling your senators
Please call or tweet Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee:

Message: “Senator, I am a constituent from your state and I support the CRPD. I look to you to support ratification of the CRPD. The CRPD is in the United States’ interests, protects our disabled citizens and veterans abroad, and honors the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

Tweet: As your constituent, I urge you to support the ratification of the CRPD & honor people with disabilities. #CPRD
Use hashtag: #CPRD

Chairman: John Kerry (D-MA)
(202) 224–4651
@JohnKerry

Ranking Member: Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
(202) 224–6797
@Senatorlugar

Senator John Barrasso ( R-WY)
(202) 224–3553
@SenJohnBarrasso

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
(202) 224–3553
@SenatorBoxer

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)
(202) 224 4524
@SenatorCardin

Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)
(202) 224–6324
@SenBobCasey

Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
(202) 224–5042
@ChrisCoons

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)
(202) 224–3344
@SenBobCorker

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
(202) 224–6121
@JimDeMint

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
(202) 224–2152
@SenatorDurbin

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
(202) 224–4721
@JimInhofe

Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
(202) 224–3643
@SenatorIsakson

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
(202) 224–5444
@SenMikeLee

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
(202) 224–4744
@Menendez4NJ

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
(202) 224–3041
@MarcoRubio

Senator Jim Risch (R-ID)
(202) 224–2752

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
(202) 224–2841
@SenatorShaheen

Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)
(202) 224–6621
@SenatorTomUdall

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)
(202) 224–4024