RI Regions
North America
RI member USICD (U.S. International Council on Disability) applauds the recent appointment by U.S. President Joe Biden of Sara Minkara as U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights at the Department of State.
USICD held a Power of International Development and Inclusion panel co-hosted with Trick Up and Sponsored by J.P. Morgan Chase on July 8.
USICD also co-hosted a two-day webinar on September 7 and 8 on A Call to Action to Protect the Right to Family: International Challenges and Solutions for Children in Orphanages and Residential Care Worldwide. USICD will mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities during its Annual Awards Gala on December 2 (virtual format) when it honors U.S. Senator Robert Menendez as well as H.E. Mrs. Catalina Devandes and Dr. Victor Pineda. USICD and other disability advocacy organizations in the United States continue to advocate for passage of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislative package that includes $250 billion in annual funding to support home and community-based services for people with disabilities.
Canada
Joint work with the Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC) body to implement new norms on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Canadian level for physiotherapy programs across Canada.
In-process: technical, staffing and content support for the Canadian shadow report the CRPD under the leadership of BCANDS http://www.bcands.bc.ca (submission: Jan 2022). Coverage including the article 11 on situations of risks and humanitarian emergencies, art. 32 on international cooperation. Ongoings research and advocacy work on disability-inclusive practices and inclusive climate-change adaptation and disaster risk management.
Leadership
Mathieu Simard
Vice President
RI North America & Canada Region
Madan Kundu
Deputy Vice President
RI North America & Canada Region
Dr. Madan Mohan Kundu served as Chair and Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation, Disability Studies, and Counseling at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, for 40 years. He received grants of $50 million for Training, Research, Capacity Building, and the National Technical Assistance Centers. He has 50+ publications and has given 61 international presentations and 166 presentations at national, regional, and state conferences. Dr. Kundu has received over 50 Academic, Research, and Service Awards and Honours, including a Fulbright Scholarship, Rehabilitation Educator of the Year, Distinguished Career in Rehabilitation Education, and Research Awards.
Mathieu Simard has been working in the physical rehabilitation area for the past 19 years and has been involved in a large number of international health projects since 2000. This mixed background has led to a number of different positions to strengthen disability inclusion in high and low-income settings alike. These range from clinical service provision to providing teachings and trainings in various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and universities in Canada and abroad. In addition to serving as Deputy-Vice President North-America and Vice-Chair on the International Commission on Accessibility and Technology, Simard chairs RI Rehabilitation International’s Task Force on Disability, Armed Conflict, and Natural Disasters. He is currently pursuing a PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at McGill University.
News & Events
OPEN CALL: Resilient & Inclusive Cities Hub – Small scale grants for innovative solutions
The Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub hosted by the Global Disability Fund is launching a call for small scale innovation solutions for inclusive and sustainable cities. The call is open to INGOs, OPDs, Development Banks, UN Agencies,...
Global Study Exposes Critical Data Gaps in Mental Health Prevalence-Children and Low-Income Countries Most Affected
A study published in The Lancet Global Health on April 24, 2025, has revealed a stark reality for global mental health: more than 80 percent of countries and territories lack recent, nationally representative data on the prevalence of mental health conditions, with...
Webinar Psychosocial support for persons with spinal cord injury in African rural low income settings
Registration: https://shorturl.at/on4M8
RI Newsletter April 2025
Dear Members of Rehabilitation International, Friends and Partners of Rehabilitation International, And All Interested Readers, Welcome to the April 2025 edition of the Rehabilitation International Newsletter. This issue features key highlights: Inside RI: RI...
Call for Applications to host the 25th RI World Congress in 2028
As one of RI’s most significant events, the World Congress is an unparalleled opportunity to bring together international leaders, experts, and advocates committed to advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disability on a global level. The Congress serves...
Is Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Treatment Worth It?
A study from Sweden casts doubt on the long-assumed superiority of interdisciplinary treatment (IDT) for chronic pain patients receiving partial disability pensions. Despite IDT’s prominence in national healthcare strategies, researchers found no significant...
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