Description:

The International Issues committee focuses on understanding local cultures and contexts while advocating for equity, opportunity, social justice, and rights of people with disabilities.  The Committee:

• provides a forum for dialogue and collaboration among professionals, families, self-advocates, policy-makers and other advocates from different countries;
• promotes international and cross-cultural exchanges that advance knowledge and practice for enhancing the quality of education and life for people with disabilities;
• establishes networks that foster collegiality among people from various cultures and societies in working toward the common goals of promoting the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in their communities; and
• disseminates information about international issues related to disability and inclusion.

Current Hot Topics in the area of International Issues:

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (.pdf)
• The National Council on Disability released a long anticipated report on May 12, 2008: The Finding the Gaps: A Comparative Analysis of Disability Laws in the United States to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (.doc)
• How should TASH participate in the global community?
• View the C.C.D.'s International Task Force Webpage for more information on international issues.

Accomplishments over past two years:

• International TASH tech on Inclusive Education: Global Perspectives
  Since 2005 the international committee has provided a full day TASH tech featuring presenters from different countries.
  2005: Poland, Canada
  2006: China, Ethiopia
  2007: Russia, South Korea, Norway
  2008: possibly Italy, New Zealand and more…
• International Issues Committee Flyers (.pdf)
• Recruitment of new international members into the TASH community
• UN Convention Advocacy.  View more at Ratify Now

Get Involved! 

The International Issues Committee is always looking for members to join the discussion.  Join us as we help TASH to achieve its mission of equity, opportunity, and inclusive for all people by volunteering for one of the activities planned for 2008:

• Publication Submissions—please submit articles about research and practice in the international community to RSPD and TASH Connections
• International Update Submissions—please submit updates about important and exciting happenings related to disability issues in your country. Submissions can be sent to Committee Co-Chairs
• UN Convention Action Team—join other international committee members in activities that support the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities both nationally and internationally
• Establishing TASH like-minded contacts in countries all over the world. Creating a network of individuals and organizations committed to the full and rightful inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of society.
• Identifying International funding sources to support international exchanges and international presenters attending the TASH conference.

Other Committees: 
Communication Issues Committee
Multicultural Issues Committee
Personnel Preparation Committee
Positive Behavior Supports Committee