Tell your Senators to Ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) !

as shared by American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and Ability Chicago completely supports...

We need you to take two minutes to tell your Senators to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Opponents of the treaty continue to work to stop ratification, and we need advocates like you to stand up to them. We need more U.S. Senators like Senator Robert Menendez (NJ-D) and Senator Bob Corker (TN-R) to support this treaty, so we need your help! The CRPD provides a vital framework for creating legislation and policies around the world that embrace the rights and dignity of all people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was the model for the CRPD. On December 4, 2012 the Senate considered the ratification of the CRPD but fell 5 votes short of the super-majority vote required.  In addition to sending them an e-mail today, it is important for you to contact your Senators and let them know that you support the CRPD.  We need every U.S. Senator to be contacted and to know that the disability community is leading the movement for U.S. ratification of this international disability treaty and our voice matters. We particularly need to contact Senator Robert Menendez (NJ-D) and Senator Bob Corker (TN-R) this week! We encourage you to call and meet with your Senator or his and her staff. If your Senator is unavailable, find out if your Senator is holding a public meeting or town hall as they often do when they are back home. Go to a local event where one of your Senators will be and tell them why CRPD is important to you and that they should vote for ratification. Go here to find your Senators' contact information and tell them: I am a person with a disability (I am a family member/friend/supporter of a person with a disability) and I want you to support the disability treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) The Senate needs to fight for the 57 million Americans with disabilities, 5.5 million disabled American veterans, and the 1 billion people with disabilities around the world Ratification of the disability treaty is supported by hundreds of disability organizations, civil rights groups, faith organizations, veterans groups, and major business groups including the Chamber of Commerce The treaty will not cost the federal government any additional funds The treaty has been reviewed by both Republican and Democratic Attorneys General and by past Counsel to Presidents. They confirm that it does not threaten the sovereignty of the U.S. nor does it require any new legislation to comply with the treaty. The treaty will not harm the rights of parents with children with disabilities and would not interefere with home schooling.  The treaty does not endorse abortion rights nor abortion funding around the world. This treaty is good for American business and for the world. It will allow us to bring our knowledge and our products that help make society accessible to the whole world Failure to ratify the treaty is embarrassing for the US.  We need to show the world that we support the rights for all individuals with disabilities around the globe. Please take two minutes to send them an e-mail and contact them your Senators today. I called! What else can I do to help? Forward this alert to others in your community to lift up their voices on this important issue.    Add your voice by joining the petition! TWEET! You can also join the conversation on Twitter by following #ISupportCRPD and tweeting to Senator Corker at @SenBobCorker and Senator Menendez at @SenatorMenendez To find out more, please go to http://www.disabilitytreaty.org. You can find one pagers, myth/facts, and access a new community webinar.