Prestigious Awards for Three International Disability Leaders

In December prestigious awards were given to three people who have dedicated themselves to improving the situation of disabled people worldwide. Deng Pufang, president of the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF), was one of the winners of this year's United Nations prizes in the field of human rights; Dr. Susan Daniels of the U.S., deputy vice president of Rehabilitation International, has just been selected to receive the Henry B. Betts award for her long time national and international advocacy; and Lord Ashley, president of Britain's Royal National Institute for the Deaf, was given a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his contributions to U.K. legislation impacting disabled people.

Deng Pufang
Deng, who uses a wheelchair due to injuries received in China's notorious "Cultural Revolution," founded what became CDPF in 1983 and has worked tirelessly since to ensure that his country takes a prominent role in international efforts to improve the situation of people with disabilities. Under his leadership, China hosted a summit in 2000 where the main international disability organizations pledged to work together to obtain a United Nations convention on disability rights. Since the summit, China has taken a forward position in pressing the UN and other governments to support the convention. Deng is the first Chinese and the first disabled person to receive a UN human rights prize. In an interview with Xinhua (www.china.org.cn/english/NM-e/82158.htm) shortly after the prize was announced on December 2, Deng stated that he regards the prize as praise for his efforts to safeguard the rights of the 60 million disabled Chinese, as well as recognition for the rapidly developing social welfare efforts of disabled people in China.

The Xinhua article also summarized recent developments concerning China's disabled population: the 13 year old Law on the Protection of Handicapped People is now being amended by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, while government departments draft Provisions on the Employment of Disabled People; some 8.8 million disabled Chinese have undergone modern rehabilitation; 74% of disabled children are attending school, compared with less than 5% when the initiative began; this year, the employment rate among disabled adults rose to 84%; and a total of 3218 people with disabilities are working as lawmakers or political consultants at different levels, indicating an impact in the political arena. Reviewing the data, Deng commented he was not yet satisfied: "These are very small numbers compared with the 60 million population with disabilities."

Susan Daniels
Susan Daniels, Ph.D., first came to prominence on the U.S. disability scene in the late 1970s when she co-authored that country's first book on disability and sexuality. This accomplishment set the tone for all her future achievements-always the first to cap a trend or to launch an initiative where others feared to tread. Contracting polio at six months of age, she graduated summa cum laude from Marquette University long before campuses were accessible. Her most recent and some say greatest achievement was as Deputy Commissioner for Disability of the Social Security Administration, where she laid the foundation for "The Ticket to Work" and the Work Incentive Improvement Act. This groundbreaking legislation creates employment incentives for disabled persons and reduces the myriad of barriers placed between citizens with disabilities and participation in the labor force.

Daniels also broke new ground internationally, when in 1997 as Deputy Commissioner, she joined forces with Judy Heumann, then Assistant Secretary for Education, to organize the first International Leadership Forum for Women with Disabilities. What was originally planned as a small meeting in Washington, D.C. for a couple hundred leaders and researchers, grew into a conference of 600 disabled women and their allies from 80 countries, with sponsorship of 25 U.S. government agencies. The Forum served as an impetus and model for subsequent regional and international meetings concerning equalization of opportunities for women with disabilities. The Betts award, given in honor of the leading rehabilitation physician, Dr. Henry Betts, is juried annually by a committee selected by the American Association of People withDisabilities

Lord Ashley
Shortly after Jack Ashley was elected Labour M.P. in 1966, he lost his hearing and over the last 35 years has spearheaded campaigns and legislation to improve the lives of people who are deaf or hard of hearing, disabled by thalidomide, battered women, rape victims, nuclear test victims and bullied soldiers. More recently, Lord Ashley was instrumental in securing major improvements to the 2003 Communications Act that will oblige satellite and cable television channels to subtitle 80% of their programming over the next 10 years. He achieved introduction of an amendment that will introduce a five- year target of 60%, greatly accelerating television access for deaf and hard of hearing viewers.

Additionally, Lord Ashley has put pressure on the government during the last parliamentary year to publish a draft Disability Bill that will provide more comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. Most disability advocates find the present legislation, the Disability Discrimination Act, to be too weak, vague and small in scope.

In 1987 Lord Ashley became president of RNID, the largest charity representing the UK's nine million deaf and hard of hearing people. Throughout the 1980s, he often served as an Assembly member of Rehabilitation International, representing the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR). The lifetime achievement recognition was presented in a ceremony in early December by the ePolitix.com Charity Champion Awards held at the Queen Elizabeth II conference center in Westminster.

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