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
Celebrating 20 Years of the CRPD Vision for 2036
From Rights to Implementation ▶ Watch the announcement video 3 & 13 December 2026 | Online
Statement of Rehabilitation International on Artificial Intelligence and Persons with Disabilities: opportunities risks and human rights
Mr Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Rehabilitation International is a global advocate for rehabilitation, inclusion and human rights for persons with disabilities. Highlights of the more than 100 years of RI’s history are the promotion of the UN-CRPD and to...
Statement at the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Dis-abilities on Enhancing public awareness of the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities for social development leading up to the Second World Summit for Social Development
Mr President, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Rehabilitation International is a global organization advocating for rehabilitation, inclusion and human rights for persons with disabilities. Due to our understand-ing, Rehabilitation is a strategy addressing to...
COSP19 General Debate
Statement Rehabilitation International. Mr Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Rehabilitation International is a global advocate for rehabilitation, inclusion and human rights for persons with disabilities. Highlights of the more than 100 years of RI’s history...
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RI Newsletter Aug-Sep 2025
RI Newsletter Aug-Sep 2025Download
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