The final Senate vote on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) took place on December 4, 2012, and unfortunately, it failed to pass. “This is a sad example of how current political differences can undermine principles and values that are already enshrined in U.S. law. Millions of people with learning disabilities are affected by the Senate’s misguided and misinformed vote,” stated NCLD Executive Director James H. Wendorf.

The CRPD treaty would have obligated ratifying countries to promote, protect, fulfill, and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities — including those with learning disabilities. It would have benefited people with disabilities from around the world, in addition to supporting Americans who work, travel, study, live, and retire outside of the United States.

By empowering persons with disabilities to be independent and productive citizens, the treaty embodied the ideals that form the basis of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The treaty:

• would have cost the U.S. government no additional funds
• had been reviewed by both Republican and Democratic Attorneys General, who confirmed that it did not threaten the sovereignty of the U.S., nor did it require any new legislation to comply with it
• would not have required undertaking any international obligations inconsistent with U.S. law
• would have been good for American and global business by allowing us to share with the world our knowledge of how to make society accessible

The National Center for Learning Disabilities, over 165 disability organizations, and 21 veterans’ groups supported CRPD. Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who helped lead the effort to support the treaty, released this statement on the devastating news.

We’d like to thank all of our community members who contacted their Senators and urged them to vote in support of the treaty.