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.
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.
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.
By partnering with HPOD, you help amplify the voices of persons with disabilities worldwide. Your support helps provide legal innovation, global advocacy, and access to essential human rights research.
HPOD organized a series of timely events on emerging issues, including litigation strategies for advancing disability climate justice, ongoing efforts to end the mass incarceration of persons of color with disabilities, and promoting awareness of the CRPD in the context of climate risks and emergencies. HPOD also assessed the implications of the passing of Sir Robert Martin, the only person with intellectual disability ever named to a UN treaty body, for self-advocates’ future involvement in the CRPD Committee’s periodic monitoring process. Last, in May 2024, HPOD’s China Program Director, Dr. Fengming Cui, was awarded the Maria McTernan Leadership Award by the Charles River Center in recognition of her demonstrated outstanding leadership in supporting the disability community.