1:58 p.m., Sept. 21, 2010----Steven M. Eidelman, H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Delaware, recently spoke at the United Nations during the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

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The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in December 2006, and was opened for signature in March 2007. There were 82 signatories to the convention when it opened, the highest number of signatories in history to a U.N. convention on its opening day. It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human rights convention to be open for signature by regional integration organizations. The convention entered into force in May 2008, and has been signed by the United States.

As the only American asked to participate as a panel member in the session, Eidelman discussed the need for countries to move away from institutionalizing people with disabilities and instead, create services that support community living and inclusion.

"It's possible for all people with disabilities to live in towns, villages and cities," said Eidelman. "We don't need institutional care as a model. With the right support, families can raise their children with disabilities."

Eidelman has given speeches about community inclusion for people with disabilities in six countries throughout Europe. He says the cross-cultural situations with disability can initially seem very foreign.

"Everything we do takes place in a cultural context," said Eidelman. "Until you get with highly skilled, highly educated people from very different cultures, you're not confronted with a different thought process. You have a set of assumptions as a westerner, as an American."

While much of the progressive research about inclusion has been conducted in places like the United States, Canada and Australia, Eidelman says many places throughout the world still have a very segregated system for people with disabilities.

"Changing cultures is a lot more difficult than changing services," said Eidelman. "Much of the Middle East is very segregated and isolating. In Africa, there are very few services available in most countries there. There is also still much shame associated with disabilities in countries like China and Japan."

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reaffirms human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities, guided by inclusion. This recent session was the third meeting of the conference.

Eidelman was just one of several speakers from throughout the world at the conference. He says just as the United States went through a cultural shift about inclusion, it can be a long-term process for other countries.

"Ultimately, when you get down to the base level with families, most of them want the same thing," said Eidelman. "They want the best for their children."

Eidelman was also invited to address the Romanian Parliament later this month on the same subject. Romania has signed the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and the ratification vote is scheduled following Eidelman's presentation. The United States has signed the CRPD, but a ratification vote has yet to be scheduled.

Article by Cassandra Kramer