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Home Our Work Spring 2023 Sem

Spring 2023 Semester in Review

Climate Change, Artificial Intelligence, Peace & Security, and more

This past spring 2023 semester, HPOD advanced research and awareness-raising activities at the intersections of climate change, artificial intelligence, international humanitarian law, and more, as part of its ongoing efforts to enabling civil society to undertake informed disability rights advocacy.

Research, Advocacy & Awareness-Raising

HPOD continued its research and advocacy activities to inform the work of both policymakers and civil society stakeholders on key disability rights issues, including disability-inclusive climate action, women and girls with disabilities' sexual and reproductive rights, students with disabilities' right to inclusive education, and the fundamental right of all persons with disabilities to marry. 

Also, HPOD continued to empower self-advocates of all ages to advance knowledge and understanding of alternatives to guardianship throughout the United States, by continuing to support national and local self-advocacy organizations to advocate for the decision-making rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.

Finally, HPOD's Chair, Professor William Alford, and Special Advisor, Retd. Ambassador Luis Gallegos, participated in the launch of the Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion–a continuation of HPOD's long-standing commitment to supporting Special Olympics' advocacy to promote inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities in sports, schools, and beyond.

  • 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

    I don’t have a guardian. That means I have a lot of responsibility but I feel I can take that on, little by

  • Towards Disability-Inclusive Climate Resilience

    Governments around the world are failing to adopt disability-inclusive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, even though climate change disproportionately affects persons with disabilities. For example,

  • young girls in school uniforms stand behind colorful barrier

    Right to Education for Students with Disabilities

    The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) enshrines the right to inclusive education, marking an important development in the international human

  • 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

    Vindicating persons with disabilities’ right to intimacy and sexual agency is key to full, holistic disability inclusion. Around the world, persons with disabilities, especially

  • 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

    The right to marry has long been recognized as a fundamental human right around the world. In this vein, Article 23 of the Convention on the

News & Events

HPOD organized a slate of timely events on emerging issues at the intersection of mental health and artificial intelligence, disability inclusion in the global peace and security agenda, and the rights of older persons under international human rights law.

Also, a number of HPOD staff and affiliates were recognized for their work. HPOD's Executive Director, Professor Michael Ashley Stein, received Harvard University's inaugural faculty award for excellence in accessibility and inclusion, HPOD fellow Alex Green was honored by the Boston Center for Independent Living for excellence in advocacy and services, and HPOD's Self-Advocate Associate, Anne Fracht, was nominated to the unique, person with disability-led Special Commission on State Institutions, along with Alex Green and several other notable disability rights activists.

Finally, Professor Stein penned a moving tribute to Judy Heumann in the Harvard Law Review's blog, to honor her passing on March 4, 2023, and HPOD's Director of Advocacy Initiatives, Hezzy Smith, authored an op-ed in The Boston Globe that prompted Massachusetts General Hospital to remove the "R" word from its patient guidance.