News Release:
Canadian Launch of the ‘World Report on Disability’

Toronto, ON, January 27, 2012 - Dr. Tom Shakespeare, editor of the ‘World Report on Disability’ will be the keynote speaker at the official Canadian launch of the WHO/World Bank ‘World Report on Disability’ on Friday, January 27, 2012.

There are over one billion people with disabilities in the world.

The ‘World Report on Disability’, the first of its kind, gives an extensive global picture of the situation of people with disabilities, their unmet needs, and the barriers they face to fully participate in their societies. The Report also provides guidance on implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Dr. Shakespeare, the lead author of the report, along with key disability activists, will discuss the implications of the report for Canada’s domestic and global responsibilities towards people with disabilities. Active in the disability community for 20 years, Dr. Shakespeare joined the World Health Organization’s Disability and Rehabilitation Team in 2008.

This is event is being funded by cbm Canada through the Disability consortium Canadian Network for Disability and Development (CNDD). Winston Miller, Director of International Programmes at cbm Canada, is the co-founder and chair of CNDD.

cbm Canada is an international non-profit Christian development organization that focuses on helping people with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world.