Category: Blog Posts

Older white woman with glasses wearing white sweater seated on dais peers attentively into the audience

Self-Advocacy Is about Belonging

Moving beyond “living in” the community

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Persons with Disabilities’ Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean

Reflections on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (in Spanish and in English)

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Friend wearing beanie consoles young women using wheelchair in a cafeteria

Major Changes to U.S. Disability Law and Policy Continue

Anticipating the likely consequences for the disability community of the largest-ever cuts to Medicaid

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Stage and frozen floor of abandoned theater at the Belchertown State School, Belchertown Massachusetts

Accountability for Mass Institutionalization of Persons with Disabilities

Massachusetts Special Commission on State Institutions demands apology from Governor, among other critical reforms

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Young man with Down syndrome and glasses stares intently at a planner while seated at desk in brightly lit room

What to Know and Do about Ongoing Changes to U.S. Disability Law and Policy

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Making Persons with Intellectual Disabilities’ Voices Heard before United Nations Treaty Bodies

Opportunities to enhance self-advocates’ role in shadow reporting

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Older person's hands folded on wooden table

Ensuring Older Persons’ Human Rights

UN Human Rights Council sets the stage for expanding the international human rights legal framework

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Brightly lit, vaulted circular ceiling of United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York City, with UN logos in gold suspended prominently on walls

Wading into the Mainstream

Building disability rights bridges across institutional silos to strengthen the global sustaining peace agenda

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Poll worker bends over to assist an elderly blind man with walking stick to dip his finger in ink at an outdoor polling place in Sudan

Voting and Disability Rights

Safeguarding persons with disabilities’ right to full and effective political participation

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disabled protestors carrying signs protesting discriminatory immigration policies along an urban sidewalk

Immigrants with Disabilities

Enabling international legal protections

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A middle-aged blind woman standing next to a sign language interpreter on a raised dais at a lectern featuring the Dominican Republic's logo speaks into a microphone

Education for All

The Dominican Republic’s pioneering inclusive education policy

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Two light-skinned bearded men with glasses, one indigenous man with long dark hair and beard, a light-skinned woman with glasses, and a light-skinned man with glasses and wheelchair pose at the front of a classroom against a black chalkboard.

Visibilizing Intellectual Disability in the Classroom

How HPOD is working to create opportunities for Harvard University students to learn from persons with intellectual disabilities

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Inclusive Accountability

The current state of international criminal law and disability

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A white man wearing blazer and tie a translation earpiece seated at a desk at the UN General Assembly hall smiles at the camera while supporters seated nearby applaud.

In Memory of Sir Robert Martin

How self-advocates can contribute to international human rights governance

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Asian older woman receives a red envelope with an infectious smile

Towards Effective Human Rights Protections for Older Persons

Building on UNITAR’s Mainstreaming Knowledge on Ageing 2023 roundtables

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A row of chimney stacks emitting clouds of smoke on a clear sunny day

Promoting Disability-Inclusive Climate Action through Litigation

HPOD and allies urge Inter-American Court on Human Rights to take notice of evolving international standards

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Microscopic images of spiky COVID viruses' surfaces

Experiences of Group Home Residents with Intellectual Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Self-advocate researchers shine a light on under-explored story

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Smiling dark-skinned graduate in black gown in wheelchair outside on a sunny day with long, dark braided hair with highlights

Youth with Disabilities in Action

Spreading the word about alternatives to guardianship

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Close up on two dark-skinned persons' heads lying on a pillow while one person's hand gently cradles the other's head

Disability & Sexual Violence

Women with disabilities global struggle for their right to intimacy

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Over the shoulder photo of a white woman pushing her wheelchair with her right arm while wearing a white, lacy veil and bridal gown.

The Right to Marry

Barriers to intimacy for persons with disabilities

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Two middle-aged white-skinned persons in wheelchairs wearing glasses and in formal attire, one male one female, smile broadly while holding hands.

Honoring Judy Heumann

Founding mother of the U.S. disability rights movement

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Woman records location of glaciers from kayak

Towards Disability-Inclusive Climate Resilience

What researchers can do to close the disability climate change equity gap

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grainy B&W image of covered dead bodies in the field from circa 1942

War Crime and No Punishment?

Gaps in International Humanitarian Legal Protections for Persons with Disabilities

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two silhouetted handles cradle a planet that is on fire

Disability and Climate Change

Call for Digital Symposium Submissions

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Silhouetted profiles of coronaviruses floating in the air

COVID-19 Experiences of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Group Homes

Self-Advocate Researchers’ Reflections

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get out the vote

The Right to Be Involved in Politics

What Self-Advocates Should Know

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roll of stickers with USA flag

Self-Determination & Voting

Self-Advocates, Get Out There and Make Your Voices Heard!

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Courtroom with empty chairs and bright blue carpet with EU flag

Investigating Claims of Ill-Treatment by Persons with Disabilities

The European Court of Human Rights Delivers Partial Victory to Roma Girl with Intellectual Disability

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Disability-Inclusive Climate Action

Lessons from the Historic 2022 Flooding in Bangladesh

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Brightly colored group of skydivers join hands midair amid the clouds

Supported Decision-Making Is about Us

Why self-advocates need to lead supported decision-making efforts in Massachusetts and beyond

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UN COSP CRPD 2022 poster

Innovations in Inclusive Early Childhood Education

COSP CRPD 2022 side event

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multicolored arrows snake around a brick wall

Transfer of Rights under the IDEA

What the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act says and the importance of alternatives to guardianship for youth with disabilities

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planet Earth graphic where half of the globe has been burnt to bits

Disability, Human Rights, and Climate Justice

The urgent need for disability-inclusive climate action

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male trainer lectures while standing in middle of circle of training participants seated on floor

Mobilizing DPOs in Bangladesh

How a 2013 law has created advocacy avenues for disabled people’s organizations

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single leg amputee sits on hospital bed

Disability and Armed Conflict in Colombia

The need for inclusive disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration processes

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Colorful overlapping word bubbles with word "newsletter"

Fall 2021 Semester in Review

HPOD’s Events, Advocacy, Capacity-Building, and Research Activities

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journal cover

Disability Rights and Crimes Against Humanity

The need to prosecute egregious and systemic human rights violations against persons with disabilities

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Photograph of two diverse landscapes separated by an unpaved road: on the left, there is dark, arid terrain with a lone leafless tree, and on the right, a verdant field of lush grass dotted by red flowers.

Respecting Autonomy in Health Care, Research, and All Areas of Life

What persons with disabilities want and how to make it happen

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Screen capture of the partial first page of The Lancet Psychiatry comment "Mental health, human rights, and legal capacity".

Mental Health, Human Rights, and Legal Capacity

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Image of cover of the African Disability Rights Yearbook journal, which shows an outline of the continent of Africa filled with artistically jumbled white accessibility icons against a gray background.

Youth with Disabilities in Zimbabwe

Barriers to sexual and reproductive health

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Two female students wearing surgical masks, whit lab coats, and safety goggles and holding long tubes stand in front of a lab bench while receiving instruction from a similarly clothed male instructor.

Disability and Diversity in Medical Education

The need to prevent ableism and discrimination in medical school admissions

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Cover of Dec 3rd The Lancet Global Health

Climate Change and the Right to Health of People with Disabilities

Lancet piece urges greater disability inclusion in climate change mitigation and adaption measures

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Close-up of the bumps on a bronze Braille printing plate.

Expanding Accessibility across Sectors

The overlapping roles of governments, businesses, and universities

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Screen grab of Elharrar's original tweet in Hebrew with an English Google translation below.

COP26 Climate Change Summit Inaccessible to Wheelchair Users

What it says about the intersection of disability rights and climate change

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Disability Bias in Health Care

Unearthing the influence of bias on health care policies and clinical decision-making

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Annual Champion Gathering, Mahesana, Gujarat

Mobilizing for the Rights of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities in India

Lessons from the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic

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young dark-skinned boys with legs braces sitting

Special Education Policies During COVID-19

Lessons from a Survey of United States School Districts

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world map with countries that have achieved sign language recognition highlighted

El acceso y uso de la propia lengua como derecho humano inalienable

Access to and use of one’s own language as an inalienable human right – In Spanish and in English

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Do Polio Eradication Efforts Overlook the 20 Million People Living with It?

Why the battle against polio cannot be won through eradication alone

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Masked children in classroom.

Harvard Law Today: Investigating mask mandate bans

Executive Director Michael Stein says the Department of Education should go beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act in investigating state bans against mandating face coverings

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The word "Advocate" inscribed on a sidewalk | Photo by Dan Brekke

How to Strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act after 30 Years

Promoting Supported Decision-Making for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

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Flag of Ecuador

Guachalá Chimbo v. Ecuador

Inter-American Court of Human Rights Vindicates Persons with Disabilities’ Right to Receive Health on the Basis of Informed Consent

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Disclosing and Treating Invisible Disabilities

Disclosure, ethics, and bias

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Elderly man in wheelchair in nursing home.

Harvard Law School Project on Disability provides legal support during pandemic

Harvard Law Today

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Chaqueta Stucky

Thanks ADA!

A video by Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered

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Photo of William Alford and Michael Stein

Founders of Harvard Law School Project on Disability Honored by the President of Ecuador

From Harvard Law Today

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Poster reads Parents with Disabilities: Rights, Remedies and the Road Ahead

Parents with Disabilities

Rights, Remedies & the Road Ahead

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Disability rights activists convoy down Beacon Hill after being charged with trespassing at the McCormick Building, which houses the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, in Boston, on Nov. 1, 2016.Line of people using wheelchairs,

Successes And Shortcomings: 30 Years Of The Americans With Disabilities Act

Exec Director Michael Stein speaks to GBH’s Under the Radar

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Image of ballot worker sorting mail in ballots

After 2020 Election, Disability Communities Are Hopeful for Change

HPOD’s Senior Associate Ari Ne’eman joins WNYC’s The Takeaway to discuss the hopes for change post-election.

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Persons with Disabilities’ Right to Political Participation around the Globe

Perspectives from Africa, Latin America, and the U.S.

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event details

Beyond Rights: Intersectional Disabled Movements & Disability Justice for Our Future

with Lydia X. Z. Brown

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A Community for All: An Honest Conversation about Disabilities

Executive Director Michael Stein on Momentum Boost

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Professor William Alford, man in suit against white background

HPOD Co-founder and chair Professor William Alford reaches milestone

After nearly two decades as vice dean for HLS Graduate Program and International Legal Studies, Alford has now passed the torch to Mark Wu, the Henry L. Stimson Professor at HLS and a leading scholar of trade and economic law.

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Hezzy Smith (a younger white man in a blue jacket and shirt) and Chester Finn (older Black man in blue suit) chat at a brown wood table during a pause in filming.

Launch of “Can They Do That?

A monthly webinar series for self-advocates

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Photo of Chester Finn, African-American adult male, with glasses, light button down shirt and dark sweater. With purple filter.

Self-advocacy is about making your voice heard! Part 4

A series of videos on self-advocacy

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Photo of Chester Finn, African-American adult male, with glasses, light button down shirt and dark sweater. With yellow filter.

Self-advocacy is about making your voice heard! Part 3

A series of videos on self-advocacy

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Photo of Chester Finn, African-American adult male, with glasses, light button down shirt and dark sweater. With red filter.

Self-advocacy is about making your voice heard! Part 2

A series of videos on self-advocacy

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Photo of Chester Finn, African-American adult male, with glasses, light button down shirt and dark sweater. With blue filter.

Self-advocacy is about making your voice heard! Part 1

A series of videos on self-advocacy

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R to L; Emmanuel K. Akyeampong, Elizabeth Kamundi, Vikram Harshad Patel, and Michael Stein

Mental Health in Africa

Event Recap

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Reilly, Kwan and Alford sit during conversation.

Michelle Kwan, Melissa Reilly and the importance of inclusion in athletics

Harvard Law School hosts Olympians

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Professor William Alford, man in suit against white background

Alford receives the Li Buyun Law Prize

The award recognizes Alford’s outstanding contributions to Chinese legal research, disability rights and educational exchange

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Mass Advocates Standing Strong logo

Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) explore supported decision-making

Updates from the field

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Logo of the United Nations. Blue background with white map of earth and two wheat sheaths on either side.

Professor Michael Stein Addresses U.N. Security Council

The Impact of Armed Conflict on Persons with Disabilities

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Radcliffe Conference Disability and Citizenship: Global and Local Perspectives

2018 International Day of Persons with Disabilities

“Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”

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William Alford present the HPOD award for Creative Contributions to Better Humanity to Timothy Shriver and Melissa Reilly at HPOD Open House. One man on left holds award. Woman center with hands on award. Man on right, hands over award. All are smiling.

Open House Honoring Special Olympics Resounding Success

Dr. Timothy Shriver and Melissa Joy Reilly receive HPOD Award on behalf of Special Olympics

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Harvard Law School logo Veritas

HPOD’s Fifth Annual Award for the Betterment of Humanity

Bestowed on Special Olympics on the occasion of Special Olympics’ 50th anniversary

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Professor Michael Stein and Professor Doron Dorfman stand at the front of the room preparing to begin Prof. Dorfman's luncht time talk

Disability Law and Perceptions of Fakery: The Need to Restore Public Trust in Rights

A blog post by Doron Dorfman

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Conspiracy of Silence Illustration of boy wearing a t shirt that says Voice on the back, hammering away from a stone wall with the word Silence on it.

Considering Empowerment: Stories of Self-Advocacy from South Africa

Dr. Jean Elphick speaks at HPOD

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Welcome

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