It could happen to you. Whether from a car accident or an injury sustained in service, your life, your mobility and your perspective could be changed in an instant.
Though we are from different ends of the political spectrum, we share much in common: We both became disabled as adults, went on to serve in Congress and share an unwavering support for the national and international rights and protections of persons with disabilities.
Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act was one of the proudest moments in our careers. Twenty-two years later, this important bipartisan legislation continues to support the independence and dignity of millions of Americans living with disabilities.
On Tuesday, Congress has a rare opportunity to share our disability rights commitment with other countries by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This treaty provides a framework for countries to pass legislation that recognizes the rights of all people with disabilities and is based on our own ADA. It adopts the principles we pioneered through passage of the ADA: equal protection of every person, nondiscrimination, the fundamental importance of independent living and the right to make basic choices about our lives.
By ratifying the treaty, the Senate will stand up for the equality and dignity of people with disabilities around the globe ‑ just as Congress did for Americans in 1990.
