I get it. You have a life. And, what does a UN disability rights treaty REALLY have to do with it?
First, the world will be different if the U.S. ratifies the Convention on the Rights of a Persons with Disabilities. Our emails will be flooded by people who have tracked us down via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn, asking questions like -- how do you set up an NGO for people with disabilities where they call the shots; who can provide free wheelchairs; what's the best slope for a ramp; is there technology that is user friendly for people with Alzheimer's; what state has the best law for voter access for people with developmental disabilities; do you have standards of conduct for interpreters; what's the best App on GPS for someone who can't see; and what does your research say about informed decision making?
Second, if you are an entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one, any one of the questions I mentioned and a zillion I didn't could be converted into a business plan to share with a bank or venture capitalist. Remember market share is 54 million plus in the U.S. and probably in the billion plus category world wide.
Third, the pressure will be on to collect products, best practices, and costs on EVERYTHING and make them accessible, ideally in one place (one-stop shop) for people with disabilities, and yes, aging baby boomers. Anyone want to be a broker? Watch out, here comes Amazon.
Fourth, we have not yet created the perfect world for people with disabilities in the U.S. we probably have enough federal laws, the right federal laws, but our implementation and enforcement could stand a scouring and jolt of improvement. The CRPD, if ratified, could trigger a national dialogue on how to do just that.
If the previous paragraphs haven't gotten your adrenalin flowing you must be comatose. I am assuming you are alive, well, and imagining the possibilities right now. So, please take just one minute, go to the link, register, and sign the petition at the White House website -- http://t.co/j9OKHVs0x8. NUMBERS MATTER. ITS UP TO US!
Thank you.
Common Grounder
