Self-Advocates Tell the UN: “We Want Institutions Closed”
The News
Keystone Moldova English and Keystone Moldova Romanian
Keystone Human Services (KHS) is a non-profit organization that is a part of a global movement to provide support and expertise to people with disabilities.
Today marks the launch of a global report by self-advocates: “Closing Institutions and Living in the Community.” Keystone Human Services is proud to have participated in the development of this report, headed by Inclusion International.
Bill Krebs, KHS Advocacy Coordinator, joined others advocates in the North American Regional Group (one of five global regional groups involved in this project) for a two-day session organized by Inclusion International where they shared their experiences, ideas, and expectations about closing institutions and living in the community. Keystone Moldova conducted similar consultations with self-advocates in Moldova. Bill’s contributions, along with those from Moldovan self-advocates and others from around the globe, are included in the report.
This report is an effort to ensure that the voices of people with intellectual and developmental disability are included as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) Committee meets to create guidelines for countries that have committed to uphold Article 19 of the CRPD, “Living Independently and Being Included in the Community.” The Committee consulted with people with disability, civil society, and advocates last year, but the consultations were largely inaccessible to people with intellectual and developmental disability, leaving key voices out of the discussion.
KHS is proud to advance global efforts for accessibility and inclusion, and to support people with intellectual disability to be heard and have their opinions respected.