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Architectural, digital and information and communication accessibility is, according to the Law [1], accessibility that meets the requirements of universal design and reasonable accommodation within the meaning of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. According to the law, providing accessibility to persons with special needs is the responsibility of public transport entities including maritime operators. Persons with special needs are those who, due to their characteristics or the circumstances in which they find themselves, need to take additional measures to overcome barriers that prevent or hinder their participation in various spheres of life on an equal footing with others. Thus, these are not only people with disabilities, but also, as the explanatory memorandum to the law indicates, other dependents, the elderly or parents with children. The publication, within the framework of the methodology of the process approach to the management of transport organizations, defines a proposal for the basic criteria of the Accessibility Management System for Integrated Interchanges (AMSII), which will ensure compliance with all the requirements of the Law and related acts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a court case in which the High Court considered whether the costs of activities undertaken by a disabled person as part of a social and life skills group should be considered 'disability-related expenditure' (DRE) and exempt from the local authority's calculations in relation to the charge that the claimant was required to pay for his support under the Care Act 2014. The court found in favor of the claimant, emphasizing the importance of the wellbeing duty and the role of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in interpreting the statute. The judgment highlights the progressive potential of the Care Act 2014 in promoting wellbeing, autonomy, and rights for individuals receiving care and support. However, the article also acknowledges that the financial situation of local authorities can impact the realization of these rights. [Extracted from the article]

Many countries grapple with the tension between commitment to inclusive education reform and the closure of special schools. This tension is particularly problematic for countries, like Australia, that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD is clear that closing special schools is pivotal to protecting the rights of students with disability to an inclusive education. Some provinces in Canada are considered to be leaders in the movement away from segregated education for students with disability. This paper reports on a critical review of the Canadian literature to develop a conceptual framework of drivers for, and barriers to special school closure. Drivers and barriers were identified at four levels: (1) societal level; (2) system level; (3) school level and (4) community level, with implications for each discussed. The findings will inform policy implementation in countries striving to meet their CRPD obligations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this contribution is on how rights protection officers (RPOs) experience supporting parents with intellectual disabilities involved in child protection investigations. We situate the role of the RPOs within disability human rights framework as well as the institutional justice capital perspective to comprehend how RPOs function as a resource for parents and professionals. We identified four overlapping themes: Altering power relations, Lack of knowledge, Systemic apathy, and Challenging the informal. We argue that pervasive discrimination towards parents with intellectual disability, from the highest levels of government to interactions between parents and the child protection system, inform these interactions and influence outcomes. The work performed by the RPOs in supporting marginalised parents, raising awareness of disability rights, and countering prejudice is of critical importance. We emphasise the role of RPOs within the justice system and recommend the strengthening of such mechanisms to meet international human rights obligations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the challenges and priorities facing the new Labour Party government in England after the 2024 UK general election. It highlights reports from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that reveal stagnant school spending and increased costs for staffing, food, and energy. The article also addresses issues in school provision, such as inequality, rising numbers of Education, Health and Care Plans, pupil absenteeism, and mental health concerns. Additionally, the article discusses developments in education and support for children with additional learning needs in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including efforts to improve experiences, implement reforms, and provide more specialist school placements. [Extracted from the article]

AbstractPeople with intellectual disabilities can be abused in all settings: homes, communities, and services. Reducing this abuse requires attention be paid to people who are engaged with people with intellectual disabilities, who were largely overlooked by a neoliberal inquiry focused on individuals. Displacing neoliberalism has been further impeded by its recent combination with social media, which has engendered “cultural homogenisation”: the further spread and sustenance of the same ideas. This article aims to offer a fundamental critique of the Disability Royal Commission’s (the Commission) inquiry by revealing the way neoliberal ideology has shaped its recommendations; and to identify positive alternatives. Arguments: (1) Neoliberal individualism is a powerful but invisible doctrine. Its focus on choice and autonomy has generated concern to provide accessible information, irrespective of its feasibility; and concern to eliminate restrictive practices, irrespective of equally important needs of staff and parents. (2) “Datafication” intended to monitor and improve otherwise unregulated markets is expensive, ineffective, and impedes engagement. (3) The only meaningful adult life envisaged is paid work, despite a meagre and shrinking number of people with intellectual disabilities obtaining jobs. (4) The limitations of a legal inquiry are identified. (5) Alternatives to the promotion of voice, choice, and work are explored. Exhausted neoliberal ideology led the Commission astray. Rather than continuing to enact neoliberal solutions, two different initiatives that are more likely to disrupt the status quo are proposed: replacing legal intervention with public health approaches to reducing violence in all settings; and developing new “counter-publics” of fun and belonging that connect people and their consociates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UN Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities urges the establishment of inclusive education and expansion of educational opportunities to maximize access to education among children with disabilities (CwDs). However, more than 90% of 150 million CwDs do not have access to education Rather, they are left without school participation, specifically in developing countries and low-income settings. This scoping review aimed at discovering the literature available around the barriers and facilitators to accessing education for CwDs in low and lower-middle income countries in eastern Africa. Medline, CINAHL, Global Health, ERIC, and Embase were searched. After a rigorous systematic search of peer reviewed articles, 188 articles were obtained, and 15 studies were included within this scoping review after iterative and constant readings and screenings of selected articles. A review of grey literature was also conducted and compared to the results gathered from the research literature. In this paper, we report on a variety of barriers and facilitators to accessing education in low and lower-middle income countries in eastern Africa described by the literature. The study findings will inform inclusive education policy and practice, as well as future disability and inclusive education research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disability-inclusive laws and policies – while not sufficient on their own to advance substantive equality – are an essential step that all countries can take to advance non-discrimination and equity in education for children and youth with disabilities. This is the first study to comprehensively review national law and policy guarantees in 193 countries to assess the extent to which countries have harmonized national laws and policies with international commitments to inclusive education articulated in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals. While strong guarantees exist across diverse countries, we find that notable gaps remain. Forty-six percent of countries do not broadly prohibit disability-based discrimination through the completion of secondary education. Legislation in 35% of countries does not guarantee persons with disabilities access to integrated education in mainstream education environments along with necessary individualized accommodations through the completion of secondary school. Thirty-one percent of countries that make primary education compulsory do not pair compulsory education with guarantees to integration in mainstream education environments and individualized supports for students with disabilities. These findings can inform reforms in countries without national guarantees and bolster support for implementation in countries where strong legal guarantees to inclusive education already exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on persons with disabilities has laid bare the link between health and economic outcomes. This article reviews the legal and policy framework impacting economic outcomes for persons with disabilities in India against the backdrop of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty, economic growth, and productive employment. It offers a policy framework for realizing the human rights of persons with disabilities by advancing their inclusion in India's economic development. People with disabilities have not benefited as much from India's economic development as non-disabled persons. The UN disability rights treaty may oblige India to ensure that people with disabilities are included in its economic development. Historically, India's laws and public policies addressing people with disabilities have not always supported them as intended. For India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of global goals for UN member states, it will need to protect the human rights of people with disabilities by creating policies to address their intersectional needs. Policy creating economic participation opportunities, recourse from unfairness and discrimination, and effective safety nets may improve outcomes for people with disabilities in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines Arabs with disabilities living in Israel. Centring their experiences and voices, it argues that the group's marginalisation is predominantly shaped by the ongoing political conflict. Arabs in Israel suffer deep social and institutional marginalisation on the basis of their ethnic identity and perceived threat and opposition to the state. Arabs with disabilities are neither exempted nor alleviated from this discriminatory framework. Therefore, those services, rights, and policies which are in place are not always fully granted, revealing the deficiency of a rights-based model for advancing their cause. Strikingly, however, it is the barriers and limiting normative beliefs within the community of Arabs in Israel where discrimination is most acutely felt. Being seen only through their disability means a battle for acceptance, integration, and participation in Arab society. Again, without a significant shift in social awareness and underlying normative perceptions, a rights-based model will only go so far. This article is about Palestinian Arabs living in Israel with disabilities. Despite their disabilities, they face ethnic discrimination from the wider Israeli society. Being disabled does not alleviate any of their challenges as they are still viewed in the framework of the ongoing political conflict and seen as a threat. Within their own Arab communities, they also face challenges. Arab communities limit their aspirations either due to low expectations or a lack of implementation of available disability rights/services. The overarching finding of this study is that ethnic discrimination and a lack of disability awareness significantly limit the effectiveness of disability rights and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social model of disability has contributed important legislative modifications to civil law in several Latin American countries. Substitute decision-making regimes are being replaced by supports in the exercise of legal capacity based on the rights, will, and preferences of persons with disabilities. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has pointed out that the legal concepts of 'unfitness to stand trial' and 'not guilty by reason of insanity' are contrary to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In the field of Latin American criminal law, the social model still bears scant influence in dogmatic and criminal procedures. Mexico and Argentina have recently incorporated procedural accommodations and support in their criminal procedural codes, which is an advance in terms of compliance with the CRPD. The reforms have not led to further discussion on the concepts of unfitness to stand in trial and inimputabilidad or their harmonisation with human rights standards, and thus persons with disabilities who are found not guilty by reason of insanity are sent to prison to receive treatment in Mexico, and in Argentina they are derived to civil judges and placed in psychiatric hospital. Despite changes, most local authors maintain traditional views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concerning number of deaths in Canada's residential care facilities, which are referred to as disability institutions. It highlights the neglect and lack of autonomy experienced by disabled individuals in these institutions, leading to depression and suicidality. The expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) laws is criticized as a form of eugenics, and the author argues that disabled people need help to leave institutions rather than assistance to die. The article also mentions the limited data on institutional deaths and provides examples of deaths in various types of institutions. The table from the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research shows the population of different types of congregate facilities in 2019, with a total population of 542,500. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Amélie Duranleau (English Version)" discusses the position of the Quebec Intellectual Disability Society on medical assistance in dying (MAiD). The organization is not opposed to MAiD but emphasizes the need for safeguards to prevent abuses. They argue that intellectual disability should not be a criterion for access to MAiD and that people with disabilities can lead fulfilling lives with appropriate support. The Society is concerned about the possibility of substituted consent for incapacitated persons and believes that satisfactory alternatives should be provided for people with disabilities. They also distinguish between advance care directives and advance directives in relation to MAiD, emphasizing the importance of consent. The article concludes by highlighting the need for stronger safeguards to prevent ableism and the devaluation of the lives of people with disabilities. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides an overview of Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) regime, discussing the resistance and debates surrounding it. It highlights concerns raised by disability rights advocates about the discriminatory and eugenic nature of the law, and emphasizes the need to consider disability perspectives in MAID legislation. The article also explores the challenges and controversies surrounding the expansion of MAID, including the inclusion of mental illness as a criterion. It emphasizes the importance of protecting the rights and equality of disabled individuals in the MAID discourse. [Extracted from the article]

The main objective of this paper is to critically reflect on the right to accessibility of persons with disabilities in India, with special focus on the context of public streets and environments. The paper draws on work carried out during the India-related part of the Inclusive Public Space Project, as well as judicial pronouncements, and the norms evolved by India as a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In this paper, we briefly set out competing conceptions of accessibility and evaluate its constitutional and statutory manifestations. Further, the measures undertaken by the government in the form of policies, guidelines and campaigns to ensure accessibility in the Indian socio-political infrastructure are also assessed. The same is followed by the analysis of significant judicial precedents of the Supreme Court and High Courts on different aspects of the right to accessibility, to demonstrate how the courts have spearheaded various structural enhancements in the accessibility regime in India. The paper is concluded by drawing attention to the need for greater synchronicity in the adjudication and implementation of the principle of accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article documents and explores the history of the e-scooter ban in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as a pathway to examining broader issues concerning the eradication of accessibility barriers in public spaces for pedestrians with disabilities and respectful uses of consultation to develop disability-inclusive regulations. The use of e-scooters poses a particular dilemma to accessibility for persons with disabilities. On the one hand, the concept of disability contemplates attitudinal and environmental barriers, as noted, for example, in the Preamble of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Attitudinal and environmental barriers have traditionally stemmed from interests that are inherently opposed to the collective interests of disabled persons. Examples include attitudes that project stigma against persons with disabilities or a focus on seeking to preserve historical features of the built environment for their aesthetics, without consideration for their accessibility or functionality for disabled persons. They have also generally originated in periods of historical marginalization or exclusion of persons with disabilities. By contrast, e-scooter debates and connected debates regarding the regulation of micromobility vehicles, contain at least one dimension that could very well be shared with persons with disabilities—that is, the preservation of the environment. E-scooters are also a phenomenon of contemporary disability exclusion: policies concerning environmental sustainability, including those promoting e-scooters, are being developed contemporaneously with growing international and national legal recognition of disability rights. These factors render arguments over appropriate regulation of the use of public spaces more complex as, within those arguments, one sees two competing positive policy directions that need to be addressed: the rights of pedestrians with disabilities and environmental sustainability. This article concludes with theoretical and practical suggestions for strengthening regulatory policymaking to address these and other complex intersectional issues of accessibility policy design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Findings Conclusion Developments in digital technologies have transformed how people interact with the world, offering employment, education, communication, health benefits and entertainment. Research has shown that not everyone can easily access digital content, particularly people with intellectual disabilities. Despite internet access being recognised as a human right in the United Nations' Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this group faces significant disadvantages.A thematic analysis of quantitative and qualitative findings was conducted with data from focus groups and interviews with 200+ participants across Ireland, Sweden, France, and the Netherlands on how people with intellectual disabilities are using technology at this time and access facilitators and barriers.The pandemic exacerbated the digital divide between people with intellectual disabilities and their neurotypical peers, impacting physical and mental well‐being. Growing demand for accessible digital skills training underscores the need to bridge this gap.Addressing these digital access disparities is crucial to ensure that individuals with intellectual disabilities can enjoy the benefits of the digital age and maintain their well‐being. By identifying priority topics in our interview data, researchers also pinpointed critical accessibility barriers and facilitators to support codesigning activities for future digital skills education content within the Digi‐ID project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractLittle is known about the realization of the rights of children with disabilities in Malawi, including which rights are being met or violated, where protection of rights must be reinforced, and ways that society can support the rights. This study explored the realization of the rights of children with disabilities in Malawi. Data generation included interviews with 30 children with disabilities (15 boys, 15 girls). Data were analyzed using content analysis and Taguette software, with codes generated relating to the UN CRPD articles. Findings indicate that children expressed discrimination and inequities toward the realization of multiple rights. In particular, there remain significant gaps in policy and programs addressing freedom from violence and abuse in community and school settings. The findings of this study will enable duty bearers, decision-makers, and service providers to prioritize initiatives for children with disabilities in Malawi to ensure their comprehensive breadth of rights is met. Points of interestThis study examined how the rights of children with disabilities in Malawi are being met.The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) provides a framework for developing policy, designing services, and implementing programs for children with disabilities based on their rights.Children with disabilities said they get support, feel respected by family, and don’t feel neglected or abandoned by their parents.The government, community, teachers, NGOs, and families are working together to support the rights of children with disabilities.Significant issues exist in providing inclusive education and preventing violence for children with disabilities, both in terms of services and policies.This study’s results will help those responsible for actions, decision-makers, and service providers in Malawi prioritize policies and programs for children with disabilities, ensuring that their full range of rights is addressed.This study examined how the rights of children with disabilities in Malawi are being met.The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) provides a framework for developing policy, designing services, and implementing programs for children with disabilities based on their rights.Children with disabilities said they get support, feel respected by family, and don’t feel neglected or abandoned by their parents.The government, community, teachers, NGOs, and families are working together to support the rights of children with disabilities.Significant issues exist in providing inclusive education and preventing violence for children with disabilities, both in terms of services and policies.This study’s results will help those responsible for actions, decision-makers, and service providers in Malawi prioritize policies and programs for children with disabilities, ensuring that their full range of rights is addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Engaging Pedagogy Through the Arts" discusses the integration of art and pedagogy, with a focus on engaged and critical pedagogy. The authors explore different strategies for incorporating art into teaching practices and examine the role of art institutions and cultural spaces in fostering critical engagement. The contributions cover a wide range of topics, including the political potential of the arts, art mediation, disability-led arts, and inclusive narratives. The authors draw from diverse perspectives and theoretical frameworks to explore the connections between art and pedagogy. In one specific example, Deborah Lee Matthews discusses a digital theatre adaptation that explores Black women theorizing their own liberatory practices and recognizing the technologies within their bodies. Matthews argues that an arts-based research approach can decolonize knowledge and help Black women extract and apply the knowledge held in their bodies. The author also explores the potential of using ritual theatre and embodied knowledge in digital space to analyze lived experiences, transgenerational communication, and the imagining of futurisms. [Extracted from the article]

The article "From the Association's Work" in the journal Special Education discusses the right to inclusive education for people with disabilities according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is stated that the number of students in special needs schools in Germany has decreased by 55,000 since 2009, while the number of students with special needs in mainstream schools has increased by more than 162,000. However, there are still challenges in implementing inclusion, and it is emphasized that more resources and training for teachers are needed. It is also noted that a comprehensive strategy for inclusive education is necessary in Germany. The Association for Special Education calls for a federal funding program to better equip education for students with intellectual disabilities. Various discussion topics and proposals related to the association's work in special education are addressed, including the renaming of the journal for therapeutic pedagogy, the possibility of mandatory social service for all, initial and continuing education, multiprofessional teamwork, the establishment of an autism working group, and the preparation of a federal specialist congress. Topics such as strengthening the connection between science and practice, public relations, and the right to education versus data protection are also discussed. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides an overview of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice, formerly known as Ortho, on its 100th anniversary. The organization has focused on promoting social justice, human rights, and reducing disparities in health and social outcomes. They have engaged in various initiatives, such as advocating for mental health inclusion in international forums, tackling policy issues, and offering conferences and symposia to promote collaboration. The special issue of the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry highlights the organization's history and future directions, covering topics such as mental health policy, interdisciplinary collaboration, social determinants of mental health, and advocacy for specific populations. The authors emphasize the importance of promoting mental health at multiple levels and acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. [Extracted from the article]

The United Nations has called upon Governments that are signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to adopt practical but progressive systems to transfer resources from segregated settings/special schools into mainstream schools. What will this mean for Australia's special schools, particularly given their significant rise in enrolments over the past decade? What will it mean for the education of Australian students with disability? In this paper, we examine recent Government reviews/inquiries into the education of Australian students with disability to determine whether future planned actions align with Australia's international obligations to move away from segregated schooling. We conclude by examining both the barriers and the potential for providing a high-quality education system that realises the UN's commitment towards inclusive schools and societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial introduces a two-part Special Issue on the Disability Royal Commission and People with Intellectual Disabilities in Australia. The Commission was established in 2019 to investigate violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with disabilities. The Commission's Final Report, delivered in 2023, included 222 recommendations, some of which were not unanimous. The report covers a wide range of issues and includes the perspectives of people with disabilities. The Commission's work involved public hearings, private sessions, and community engagements. The report has generated controversy, as it focuses on negative experiences and poor-quality services, without exploring positive experiences and factors contributing to good quality services. The text also discusses the challenges faced by governments in responding to the Commission's recommendations and mentions the release of the Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which intersects with the Commission's recommendations. The text provides guidance on accessing the Commission's publications, submissions, public hearings, and other resources. It introduces the articles in Part 1 of a Special Issue that critically analyze the Commission's findings and recommendations on various topics related to people with intellectual disabilities. The text concludes by mentioning that Part 2 of the Special Issue will include additional articles on education, health, and Positive Behaviour Support. [Extracted from the article]

The establishment of academic psychiatry was completed around 1900. Simultaneously, in view of the societal crisis phenomenon the professional self-concept of the psychiatrist was shifted to a self-image, according to which psychiatry had to place its expertise at the service of the people and the country. This was particularly expressed in World War I in the brutal dealing with the so-called war neurotics. In association with the so-called death by starvation of ca. 70,000 institution inmates, in the post-war period Karl Bonhoeffer debated a transformation of the term humanitarianism. The worst consequence of the rejection of humanitarian thoughts are the murders of invalids under National Socialism; however, legitimization of such crimes by alluding to collective ethics, as attempted by Karl Brandt, seems to be less than convincing. The reform of psychiatry initiated in the 1960s and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which came into force in 2008, have achieved prerequisites for a supportive psychiatry with reduced coercion, whereby many questions also in the legal and social systems must still be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization acknowledges that the health of people in the European region has improved significantly, but not everywhere and not equally for all. It has set a strategic goal to improve the health of all, and reduce health inequalities. In meeting this goal, Lithuania purposefully strives to reduce inequalities in the health condition of individuals attributed to different social groups, and differences in accessibility to health care. The primary focus is on people with disabilities. In compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Lithuania seeks to provide people with disabilities with health-care services and programmes of the same availability, quality and level which are provided or applied to other individuals, free of charge or at a reasonable price. However, research has revealed a great deal of problems in fulfilling this obligation. The present article focuses on physicians’ experience, and aims to understand, from a physician’s perspective, the financial opportunities and barriers that they encounter in rendering health-care services to people with disabilities. A survey involving 107 physicians was carried out in 2019 and 2020. The research results showed that Lithuania is making progress in increasing funding to the health-care system in a targeted way covering a wide range of its domains. Therefore, physicians have plenty of opportunities to refer patients with disabilities to other professionals for consultation without any financial constraints, to prescribe reimbursable medication, to carry out laboratory and radiological tests, to give instructions to caregivers on patient care, and to hospitalise a patient or transfer him/ her to another hospital. The situation is somewhat worse with prescribing the most appropriate reimbursable measures and reimbursable rehabilitation treatment, and the worst situation has emerged in the sphere of reimbursable psychological and social assistance, because these services are usually granted a minimum level of funding. The trends established verify that there is a strong need to develop a more effective public health policy in Lithuania, to reform the health-care system, and to invest in improving its quality, so that the country can take more measures to ensure the health of the population and the inclusive equality of people with disabilities in the health-care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most European states have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), but implementation varies at national and local levels with municipalities often playing a key role. Decentralization policies have often led to municipalities providing social support as well, but little attention has been paid to the accessibility of municipal support for persons with disabilities in the light of the CRPD. Therefore, this article presents the Dutch 2015 Social Support Act (SSA) as a case study. The SSA introduces the right to an assessment. This legal evaluation moment has far-reaching consequences for persons with disabilities as it serves as the gateway for access to reasonable accommodations under the CRPD. Dutch municipal councils implement their assessment systems in different ways, but social district teams are usually set up to execute the assessment under the mandate of the municipality. It is often the case that social workers fulfil both counselling and gatekeeping roles, despite the fact that they are not necessarily trained to combine these dual responsibilities. This article identifies impeding factors that influence the gaining of access to municipal social support at the level of the social system, the involved organizations and the individual professionals. It takes a legal-anthropological approach based on in-depth multidisciplinary interviews with experts in the field of disability rights advocacy, social policy and human rights, or with experiential expertise. The results indicate a lack of alignment between the SSA and the CRPD. The discussion gives recommendations for a broader implementation of the CRPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has brought about extensive education policy reforms towards inclusive education in many countries around the world. At the same time, it has been observed that intergovernmental organisations and non-state actors have been extensively involved in establishing these reforms. To better understand the roles of these actors in this field, we conducted a systematic literature review combined with network visualisation techniques. Specifically, we applied the policy cycle framework to analyse peer-reviewed articles published between 2006 and 2020 on the implementation of inclusive education and the roles of intergovernmental and non-state actors therein. The systematisation of findings from the studies included in our review indicates that inter- and non-governmental organisations are the dominant actor groups, which become involved through the provision of capacity development support and implementation in practice. At the same time, researchers and experts are becoming increasingly involved at different stages of the policy cycle, from policy formulation, to capacity development, to implementation in practice. Overall, our results provide a comprehensive picture of intergovernmental and non-state actor involvement in inclusive education and can contribute to a better understanding of implementation processes in the field of inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been instrumental in driving the development of the concept and practice of supported decision making. An important feature has been the development of "supported decision making pilots." This paper identifies, describes and analyses pilot programmes providing support for decision making for people with cognitive disabilities in Australia and internationally between 2016 and 2021. It finds that challenges included providing support for socially isolated people and adequately resourcing those programmes. However, most pilots reported positive outcomes for decision makers, adding to the evidence base for claims to be made about the positive impact of supported decision making on the lives of people with disabilities. The pilots demonstrate that, internationally, there is an emerging set of programmes that seek to promote supported decision making incrementally through developing focussed community awareness and practice. While still small‐scale, time‐limited and experimental, with different levels of rigour in practice and evaluation, they provide some foundation and a preliminary evidence base for larger interventions and reforms in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entry into force of Legislative Decree No. 1384 meant that Peru incorporated into its legislation on legal capacity the paradigm of the Social Model of Disability contained in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). This has meant a resounding change in the understanding of the notion of capacity and the existing interaction between the legal system and any person who presents psychosocial, intellectual and/or cognitive deficiencies, since now what was initially an impediment to the exercise of their rights and obligations is no longer an impediment and it is assumed that every person enjoys full legal capacity to deploy their legal sphere. Now, considering that the Law is presented as a normative system that responds to criteria of logic and internal coherence and that its considerations are based on a common factor such as the person and his behavior, the following question arises: what are the implications that this change causes in the legal treatment of the capacity to be subject to criminal charges? From this perspective, we analyze how this new conception of capacity would operate in the field of criminal law, mainly that referring to the notions of imputability and culpability. This responds to the fact that these categories are also structured on the notion of capacity as aptitude to be motivated in accordance with the norm or to infringe it and, thus, be considered responsible for the typical wrongdoing and deserving of punishment. In this line, we consider that the Social Model of Disability would imply that the bases of the sanction in the criminal field, contained in the mentioned categories, are also reformulated, since the notion of capacity is a unanimous element to the legal reasoning that is based on the logic of the duty that every person has to adapt his conduct to the Law, which cannot be considered in an abstract way by the legal system, as the legislation inspired by the mentioned model would do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Center for Political and Constitutional Studies in Madrid organized a seminar on the rights of people with disabilities and the reform of Article 49 of the Constitution. The seminar discussed the political process of constitutional reform, the significance of disability in the 1978 Constitution, and the challenges of the reform. The opening ceremony was attended by the Director of the Center for Political and Constitutional Studies and the Minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Courts. Participants highlighted that the reform of Article 49 is a social achievement and provides special protection for people with disabilities. The importance of personal autonomy, social inclusion, and access to justice to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities was also mentioned. In addition, reference was made to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Law 8/2021, which reforms civil and procedural legislation to support these individuals in the exercise of their legal capacity. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be integrated into the care of dependent and disabled people in Spain, highlighting its capacity to promote autonomy and person-centred care. Inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the document proposes a shift from the institutionalised care model to a more community and homeintegrated one, where technology, especially AI, plays a crucial role. The benefits and risks of AI in care are discussed, such as improving quality of life and service efficiency, while raising the need for careful analysis to avoid discrimination and ensure respect for human rights. In addition, examples of current technologies, such as home care robots and remote monitoring systems, are detailed, showing the increasing integration of AI in the field of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report is summary of a panel discussion at the World BOSAI Forum held in Sendai in 2023. We invited panelists with diverse backgrounds from the inclusion and diversity frontlines and were able to document their experiences. The panel included a mental health specialist, an employee of a UN agency, working on sexual and reproductive health, a musical producer, persons with disabilities working for the independence of disabled people (a local NGO staff), and a young undergraduate student. First, it was shared that the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in times of disaster is already deemed a responsibility to be implemented by each country as per the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006. Second, to realize "no one will be left behind," including women, sexual minorities, and children, three issues, i.e., who is assisting, the importance of human dignity, and the values of arts and culture, as well as two key approaches, i.e., mainstream and targeted actions, were presented. Additionally, the importance of reflecting on the above in national and regional planning during times of normalcy was clarified. All citizens, especially those engaged in the sector of disaster risk reduction, need to learn the frontline of discussions and initiatives on human rights and welfare as well as to reflect on policy and regional planning. This is essential for reducing vulnerability to disasters and building a resilient society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nachhaltigkeitsrecht is the property of Verlag Oesterreich GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nachhaltigkeitsrecht is the property of Verlag Oesterreich GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nachhaltigkeitsrecht is the property of Verlag Oesterreich GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research examines the incorporation of Design for All (DfA) in the human nutrition and dietetics curriculum within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), aligning with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). A bibliographic review in the Scopus database focused on literature connecting DfA with this degree. The study also analyzed Spain's legal and educational frameworks, including ANECA's White Book and Order CIN/730/2009. The findings highlight a gap in explicitly including DfA in Spanish universities' curricula for this degree. The paper stresses the importance of integrating DfA across essential courses like public health and diet therapy. It suggests a pedagogical approach blending theory, problem-solving, and service-learning to foster an understanding of inclusivity. The article proposes strategies for embedding DfA in the curriculum, recommending the development of specific subjects and integrating DfA content into existing courses. This approach aims to prepare future professionals to offer inclusive nutrition and dietetic services, ensuring equitable access and participation for all, including those with disabilities. This curricular integration is vital for addressing societal needs and upholding quality and inclusivity in health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision making is the basis for individual autonomy and societal participation. To support persons' human right to make life decisions, the model of supported decision making (SDM) has evolved and complies with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Models for implementing SDM and outcomes achieved by applying SDM in community settings remain insufficiently explored. This study used a human rights perspective with participatory, qualitative research methods to investigate environmental conditions and social support measures that enabled persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) to make and implement their own decisions. Data gathered were 6 months of field notes about implementing SDM in a L'Arche day activity program with 26 adults with ID, with opinions and drawings illustrating persons' decision making. All data were analyzed thematically. As a result of using the SDM intervention, persons with ID became more expressive, able to discuss and debate options, participated in organizational and municipal decision making, and expressed "joy" and feeling "more like a human." Staff supporters found SDM fulfilling and noticed it increased the sense of ownership persons with ID experienced in individual and group meetings. An organizational environment that respects human dignity, supports sustained relationships between persons with ID and decision supporters, individualizes SDM depending on how persons can communicate, and encourages staff self-reflection about prejudices and positionality is essential for implementing SDM with persons with ID. SDM processes shift oppressive social narratives and policies in the direction of a social, relational model of the decision-making capacities and competencies of persons with ID. Public Policy Relevance Statement: The United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities mandates supported decision making (SDM) to actualize social participation of persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). Legislation needs to replace substitute decision making with SDM. Social service organizations need to implement SDM with persons with ID and their families. Research with persons with ID needs to include priorities of persons with ID and SDM processes and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), a fundamental change in psychiatric care in Germany was proposed in 2019 by Zinkler and von Peter, supported by a legal perspective from Kammeier, which has since led to controversial debates. Essentially, the aim is not only to reduce coercion in psychiatry to a minimum, but also to fundamentally exclude it in a psychiatry that only provides care. The function as an agent of social control is to be returned from psychiatry to state institutions. Psychiatric hospitals will only admit patients with their consent; patients who refuse therapy will not be admitted regardless of their capacity for self-determination and will remain untreated or, if they have committed a criminal offence or threaten to commit a criminal offence, they will be taken into custody or imprisoned in accordance with the legal regulations applicable to all people. There they will receive psychiatric care if they so wish. Aim of the paper: The paper outlines the background of this concept, including international sources, traces the discussion in German specialist literature and takes a critical look at it. Results: The criticism is primarily directed against the fact that responsibility for a relevant proportion of psychiatric patients would be handed over to the police and judiciary and that, as a result, two realities of care would be established that would considerably differ in terms of quality. Conclusion: Arguments are put forward in favor of retaining the function of social control and considerations are suggested as to how caring coercion can be largely minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dilemas Contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores is the property of Dilemas Contemporaneos: Educacion, Politica y Valores and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

China ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008. Hong Kong, as a Special Administrative Region of China is thus also obligated to implement this treaty. CRPD Article 13 protects the right to access to justice for people with disabilities, including Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals. In Hong Kong, research exploring the implementation of CRPD Article 13 in practice is lacking. This study utilizes in-depth interviews and case studies of deaf individuals, a case worker, and a barrister as its methodological approach. It aims to investigate the implementation of CRPD Article 13 within the criminal justice system in Hong Kong through the lived experiences of DHH individuals. The findings of the research suggest that there are significant gaps in the implementation of CRPD Article 13 for DHH individuals in Hong Kong. Institutional, communicative, and attitudinal barriers highlighted in the CRPD are identified in the experiences of DHH individuals with the legal system, indicating an insufficiently comprehensive system to ensure equal rights for DHH individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key innovation of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is its recognition of the critical importance of the principle of meaningful participation in realising the rights enshrined in the treaty document. Hence, the CRPD is the first human rights treaty to mandate the participation of civil society in the implementation and monitoring of the treaty. What happens, however, in a non-liberal society where human rights activism is potentially risky and lacks cultural resonance? This article turns to Singapore as a case study and analyses how one particular cross-disability representative organisation participated in the CRPD monitoring process through the ritualistic mobilisation of disability rights. This mobilisation was enabled by the CRPD's obligations of conduct, which provide a justification for their participation in the CRPD monitoring process. Hence, the usual risks associated with human rights activism in Singapore can be mitigated because these activists are technically assisting the Singapore government in fulfilling its obligations under the treaty. Such tactics of ritualistic mobilisation are aimed ultimately at the ritualisation of disability rights, which refers to the entrenchment of the human rights model of disability policy as the dominant political paradigm through which to approach disability issues. In addition to demonstrating the impact of obligations of conduct enshrined in the CRPD on the mobilisation of disability rights, this article adds to the growing recognition in socio-legal and human rights scholarship that civil society participation and rights mobilisation may take a variety of forms, not only the more explicit or confrontational modes that feature in Western liberal democracies. It also contributes to the growing literature on disability movements in East Asian developmental welfare states by attending to how disability rights and the CRPD are mobilised in the region to realise a more just and equal society for disabled people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has made judgments in several cases regarding human rights violations. In one case, two women in France were denied the right to use their deceased husbands' sperm and embryos for posthumous medically assisted reproduction. The ECHR ruled that the French authorities did not violate the applicants' rights under Article 8 of the Convention. In another case, a man in Portugal with paranoid schizophrenia claimed a violation of Article 3 of the Convention due to inadequate medical treatment and inappropriate conditions of detention. The court acknowledged the challenges faced by the Portuguese prison system but did not find a violation of Article 3. The ECHR also made judgments in three separate cases, finding violations of Article 5 § 1 (e), Article 8, and Article 8 of the Convention. These cases highlight the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of individuals with mental health disorders, HIV-positive individuals, and people with disabilities. [Extracted from the article]

This document discusses the concept of inclusive digital education and its importance in promoting diversity and inclusion in schools. It explores the potential of educational technology to support inclusive practices and addresses the challenges and barriers that marginalized learners face in traditional educational systems. The document also includes a special issue that features papers on various aspects of digital inclusion, such as parental involvement, the role of teachers, and the impact of technology on learner motivation. Overall, the document emphasizes the need for critical perspectives and effective policy frameworks to ensure successful digital inclusion in education. [Extracted from the article]