[blindlaw] FW: Newsletter on disability rights and casework in different countries

Tue Feb 13 14:43:23 UTC 2018

FYI  This seems like a very worthy project and I encourage participation.

Thanks,

Scott

From: adolf.ratzka at gmail.com [mailto:adolf.ratzka at gmail.com] On Behalf Of Adolf Ratzka
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 6:56 AM
To: slabarre at labarrelaw.com
Subject: Newsletter on disability rights and casework in different countries

February 13, 2018

Dear colleague,

At the Independent Living Institute we plan to start a free newsletter on legal action for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. 

Many countries work for equal opportunities of persons with disabilities by adopting national legislation and signing international treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD. Yet persons with disabilities still do not enjoy the living conditions that their fellow citizens without disabilities take for granted. 

In a few countries such as the US, UK or Israel, civil society organizations, in close cooperation with and accountable to disabled people’s organizations, complement state agencies in implementing the rights of these citizens. Using law as a tool for social change these organizations specialize in raising awareness of the legal rights of persons with disabilities and combat disability based discrimination through court action.

Civil society organizations in other parts of the world have been slow in using law and legal case work in defending the rights of persons with disabilities. Spreading and strengthening this approach to more countries requires the involvement of individuals with disabilities and their organizations, the legal community and other civil society organizations. The first step in this direction can be an international newsletter for linking individuals and organizations working in this field with an interest in using law and legal action for promoting the cause of persons with disabilities. 

Purpose of the free quarterly newsletter

*         sharing news, court decisions, events, concerning disability law and disability rights,

*         discussing legal issues regarding disability based discrimination and implementing the rights of persons with disabilities as outlined in the CRPD.

Through the newsletter we can share and discuss, pool our expertise, learn from each other. We may live in different countries with different legal traditions, but we work for the same goals. 

Who is the planned newsletter for?

*         individuals with disabilities and their organizations worldwide  

*         instructors, researchers and students at law schools worldwide with an interest in disability rights 

*         Public Interest and Human Rights lawyers worldwide interested in disability based discrimination. 

The newsletter will have news items, such as

*         reports on current developments around the world.  Here’s an example:

In a recent decision by the Swedish Supreme Court, Region Gävleborg, a Swedish regional authority responsible for among other things public transit, the Court determined that the regional authority could be held to be liable for a violation of Sweden’s anti-discrimination law that may have been committed by a private bus company in carrying out a public contract concerning public transit for  the regional authority.  The bus company’s driver, referring to his lack of training in the use of the bus’ wheelchair ramp, had refused to let a wheelchair rider board. The issue on appeal was if the regional authority could be held liable under these circumstance. The person is represented by DHR, a Swedish organization of persons with physical disabilities. 

By clarifying the potential liability concerning outsourcing, the court has made clear that the outsourcing entity can be held liable for discriminatory acts committed by a contractor. The decision increases the individual’s legal certainty and forces public authorities to choose their contractors with care. The merits of the case will now be dealt with by the trial court, which is expected to rule on whether the person involved was discriminated against on the grounds of lack of accessibility.

*         presentations of experts in the field. 

As an example,  <https://adolf-ratzka-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1ID3GhcnagpEDXPiuNme0Un0IB6qiZDEEGvohKRM6bhk-571990360&key=YAMMID-30132234&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Ftime_continue%3D184%26v%3DM54KTg2SH0Q> watch here our interview with Mr. Sid Wolinsky, Disability Rights Advocates, Berkeley, USA , a specialist in class action and high-impact litigation and rights of people with disabilities.

*         announcements

As an example, the 10 International Disability Law Summer School will be held at National University Ireland, Galway 18 – 22 June 2018.  <https://adolf-ratzka-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1ID3GhcnagpEDXPiuNme0Un0IB6qiZDEEGvohKRM6bhk-571990360&key=YAMMID-30132234&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuigalway.ie%2Fcdlp%2Fsummer_school%2Fabout.html> Read about previous years’ Summer Schools here.

As an additional example, we would like to invite disability activists, human rights lawyers, law students and their instructors, with an interest in combatting disability based discrimination, to the Independent Living Institute’s international conference and workshops on strategic litigation for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, in Stockholm, May 30 - 31, 2018. Please, save the date. More information on the event to follow soon.

*         your suggestions for other features are most welcome

If you’d like to receive our planned free newsletter,  <https://adolf-ratzka-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1ID3GhcnagpEDXPiuNme0Un0IB6qiZDEEGvohKRM6bhk-571990360&key=YAMMID-30132234&link=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fforms%2Fd%2Fe%2F1FAIpQLSfbM-rUC2z-YTEiN4EzuO-QYRLr59OcQPV1pjT1fArrvuo6cg%2Fviewform%3Fc%3D0%26w%3D1> fill out this form, 

Please, pass this mail on to colleagues who you think could also be interested in the newsletter and send us addresses of associations and networks working with disability laws and rights. 

Help us to spread the word!

Thank you,

Maria Chöler   <mailto:maria at independentliving.org> maria at independentliving.org

Adolf Ratzka

Independent Living Institute

The Independent Living Institute (ILI) is a not-for profit Swedish foundation specializing in policy evaluation and formulation, funded by project-based public grants, controlled by persons with disabilities and located in Stockholm. Here is our latest Annual Report

Maria is a recent graduate from Uppsala University law school and works part-time for ILI. 

Adolf retired from his position as ILI’s director last October to work with selected projects.

-- 

Adolf Ratzka PhD

Independent Living Institute

Storforsplan 36 10th floor

123 47 Stockholm-Farsta, Sweden

+46  8 740 4200  +46 8 506 22 179

www.independentliving.org <https://adolf-ratzka-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1ID3GhcnagpEDXPiuNme0Un0IB6qiZDEEGvohKRM6bhk-571990360&key=YAMMID-30132234&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independentliving.org>    adolf.ratzka at independentliving.org <mailto:adolf.ratzka at independentliving.org> 

  <https://adolf-ratzka-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/FireBase?ukey=1ID3GhcnagpEDXPiuNme0Un0IB6qiZDEEGvohKRM6bhk-571990360&key=YAMMID-30132234> 

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 9380 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/attachments/20180213/853a31fc/attachment.png>