Independent Living Institute

Newsletter 2/99

Newsletter Index and Info

Human Rights/Disability Rights
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TIME recognizes the Institute's Adolf Ratzka

Dear friend/colleague,

In its special Winter 98/99 edition, entitled "Visions of Europe", TIME magazine presents the political, social and economic experiments that will shape Europe in the 21st century. Among the key players working for social change in Europe, TIME distinguishes disabled activist Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph.D., one of the leaders in the European disability rights and Independent Living movement. ( http://www.independentliving.org/docs5/time.html)

"In the article, TIME recognizes disability as a profoundly political issue in contrast to the still prevailing view of disabled people as objects of care, pity and humanitarian concerns. I am convinced that now, at the turn of the millenium, disabled people are at the threshold of a world-wide recognition of their human and civil rights", comments Adolf Ratzka.

We invite you to visit our website at http://www.independentliving.org to learn more about our work for equal opportunities, self-determination and self-respect of disabled people.

Sincerely yours,

Terry Skehan
Administrator
Independent Living Institute

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Human Rights

50 years have passed since the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights. What has happened since then? If not much else, there has been a lively production of international documents. Not all may be useful to you and me in an immediate tangible way, for example, keeping us out of a nursing home, enabling us to get on the bus at the next corner or forcing the daily newspapers to produce a taped issue. But at least these documents have helped to raise public awareness somewhat. Also, some of the language can be used when lobbying for anti-discrimination legislation in your country. We cannot afford to be picky and have to use everything we've got. The Institute is working on building and maintaining a full-text collection of pertinent international documents. Please help us with references.

Adolf Ratzka
Director
Independent Living Institute

note: long URLs may have to be copied and pasted into your browser's
address (location) bar.

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Independent Living Virtual Library - Human Rights
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents27.html
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In this most recent sub-heading to our Library, we've collected and cross-referenced over 40 articles, declarations, and reports on human rights and disability rights.

Especially relevant are such texts as:

Conference on Legislation for Human Rights - Stockholm, Sweden, 1998
Experts from several countries with anti-discrimination legislation present how the legislation has functioned in their countries and reflect on the situation of disabled people in their respective country.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs1/hr00.html

Seminar on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities from a North and South Perspective - Stockholm, Sverige, 1998
Social status and standard of living for different groups in society such as women, immigrants and persons with disabilities is dependent on economic and social factors. In order to improve a group's situation in society the society's resources and limitations must be taken into consideration.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs1/stlm19980823a.html

European Disability Forum - Guide to the Amsterdam Treaty - 1998
The Treaty of Amsterdam marks a new departure for disabled citizens in Europe. This guide is designed to inform and empower our membership.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/edf98.html

United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities of Disabled Persons - 1993
Includes reports on compliance with the rules by governments and NGOs of participating countries.
http://www.independentliving.org/standardrules/index.html

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Discussion forum on Human Rights
http://www.independentliving.org/cgi/forum/forum.cgi?forum=humanr
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This newly-created discussion forum allows you to comment on particular articles, pose questions to your colleagues, or make statements regarding human rights/disability rights.

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Books on human rights from a disability perspective
http://barnesandnoble.bfast.com/booklink/click?sourceid=256763&is_search=Y&keyword=disability+rights,+civil+rights,+human+rights,+handicap,+disabled+people&match=exact&options=and
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The Institute's Bookstore offers a selection of books directly related to human rights and disability.

If you've recently read a book you think is relevant to the Institute and would like to offer a short review, please contact our webmaster.

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Links to web site concerned with Human Rights/Disability Rights
http://www.independentliving.org/links/links-index.html
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The Institute links to over a dozen on-line resources for further information on human rights.

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Don't forget to visit our other on-line services
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Global Networking (formerly Disability Organizations Network)
Global Networking facilitates networking among organizations in the disability field for joint projects, events, sharing resource persons for lectures, training or technical assistance, for study visits, internships or funding.
http://www.independentliving.org/donet/index.html

Independent Living Virtual Library
Our Library contains a growing number of documents, articles, training manuals, reports on such Independent Living issues as personal assistance, accessibility, advocacy, legislation, sexuality, family, disabled women's issues and more.
http://www.independentliving.org/library.html

Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
Assisting people with disabilities in exchanging homes during vacations.
http://www.independentliving.org/vacaswap.html

Assistant Referral
Helps people with extensive disabilities find personal assistants in their hometown or other parts of the world which they plan to visit.
http://www.independentliving.org/assex/index.html

Personal Assistance Network
Provides information, examples of good practice, advice and support for people with extensive disabilities including a free assistant referrral service.
http://www.independentliving.org/panetwork/index.html

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