QF’s Doha Debates focus on disability justice

On the eve of International Day of People with Disabilities, supporters of disability rights shared with viewers of the Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates # DearWorldLive program recommendations on how to achieve justice from disabilities for one in seven people with a disability – the largest in the world Minority.

The program, which was watched live by nearly half a million people worldwide, featured some of the world’s most well-known disability rights activists.
Judith Heumann, a lawyer who contracted polio as a child and later served in the administrations of US Presidents Clinton and Obama, gave practical advice on how to ensure that people with disabilities receive the respect and opportunities they deserve .
Speaking to Nelufar Hedayat, host of #DearWorldLive, Heumann said: “You and others are ready to listen, learn, take our lead and work together.” She said that “disability needs to be normalized” and addressed the issue of inspiration. “We say that people should not be inspired by disabled people who do things that are typical of other people. Inspiration is something that we should gather from things. People do what goes beyond what people normally do.”
Have Girma, a human rights attorney and the first deaf-blind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, said, “All of my success is an example of what can be possible when society breaks down barriers.” Girma said there was still much to be done to achieve justice for the disabled. “One thing to keep in mind is that it will be an ongoing, never-ending process. The work will never end. We are all continually growing. Accept that you will always work to break down barriers.” She urged people and the media to change their views on people with disabilities.
Hari Srinivasan, an autistic student and educator at the University of California at Berkeley, encouraged people with disabilities to play their part in making disability justice a reality. “We have to get out of there, show that we exist, show the community our humanity,” added, “the more contact and contact non-disabled people have with us and our talent, the more they can see our capabilities and the less they can.” the stigma. This repeated exposure is a path to acceptance and inclusion, and then to belonging. “
Maysoon Zayid, a disability rights attorney, actress and comedian, set the stage for the discussion by describing what disability justice means to her. “There are no groups that are free from disabilities. There is no age without disabled people, no race, no gender or orientation without disabled people. Therefore, disability rights are human rights.”
Viewers around the world participated in the program, with questions and comments from Palestine, Rwanda, India and beyond.
The show included a preview of one of three short films made in partnership with World Enabled, a nonprofit education organization led by Dr. Victor Pineda, a social development scholar and disability rights advocate, were produced.
Amjad Atallah, Managing Director of Doha Debates, said: “In partnership with World Enabled, we are proud to release three new original short films by people with disabilities celebrating the work of people with disabilities. I dare not let you be moved by Antoine Jäger’s dance, Abia Akram’s work with women with disabilities in Pakistan, or Mia Farah’s artistry and wild drive. These amazing and beautiful reflections of humanity are all around us if only we are ready to acknowledge and celebrate their stories. “
The #DearWorldLive program, World Enabled shorts and more are available on-demand on Doha Debates’ Twitter, Facebook, Twitch and YouTube channels, as well as at DohaDebates.com/DisabilityJustice. “

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