To the editor:

We notice the Journal-World missed an event Tuesday evening and would like to take this opportunity to provide details of this important event for distribution to the community.

Kansas native David Morrissey, executive director of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities, addressed an audience of over 100 at the Dole Institute of Politics about the importance of the U.S. Senate voting to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). He emphasized the strong support of Sen. Bob Dole for this treaty and acknowledged the current lack of support from Sens. Moran and Roberts.

Modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act, the CRPD would extend rights to the 1 billion people with disabilities around the world, and is widely supported by hundreds of disability organizations, civil rights groups, faith organizations, veterans groups, and major business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce.

As president and past-president of AbleHawks and Allies, a Kansas University student group that works to raise awareness of disability issues, and a co-sponsor of Tuesday’s event, we urge everyone to contact our Kansas senators to enlist their support for the CRPD in the upcoming vote. Thank you to the Dole Institute of Politics and other community partners for sponsoring this significant program.