A Moral Imperative: U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

As of July 2014 over 145 countries that belong to the United Nations have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a disability rights treaty. The U.S. has not. This book, A Moral Imperative: U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, is a collection of blog posts written between August 2013 and June 2014 on why the U.S. should ratify the disability rights treaty. It is anticipated that the Senate, which has sole responsibility for ratification of international treaties, will vote on ratification of the disability rights treaty in July 2014.
Using multiple arguments and easy to understand facts this book makes the case for ratification. The book provides background on the treaty and the role people with disabilities played in its drafting. It outlines in plain English the major points of difference between those who support and those who oppose ratification, and urges, and sometimes suggests how, they could find common ground. It profiles Senators who could help reach the 67 votes needed for ratification. In December 2012, the first attempt for a vote in favor of ratification, lost by a very narrow margin.
This book also includes posts about contemporaneous events that influenced the debate on, momentum for passage of, and specific actions associated with the treaty. It contains many user-friendly talking points and suggests actions people may elect to take to promote ratification.
This book is an invaluable crash course on the treaty for anyone who wants to help promote ratification by the Senate of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Please read this book and be part of the push to make the world more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to people with disabilities.