Beit Issie at the UN!

Just last week, Beit Issie Shapiro was privileged to be a part of the United Nation’s Annual Assembly on the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and connect with hundreds of participants from around the world.

A special consultant to the UN since 2012, Beit Issie Shapiro hosted a panel at the conference on the topic of inclusive education in cooperation with our partners from Harvard Law School Project on Disability (HPOD) and the Zero Project.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately highlighted gaps in the inclusive education system.” explains Professor Michael Stein, Executive Director of HPOD and a Consulting Board Member of Beit Issie Shapiro.

“When it comes to inclusion for children with disabilities,” he continues, “there is greater focus on academic inclusion and less on social inclusion, even though this is a critical component if we are going to transform societies.”

The panel included a well-rounded assembly of participants in the field including the Co-Director of Beit Issie Shapiro Social Change Unit Yoav Kraiem who shared the significance of inclusion for children with disabilities. “For a child to have a positive image of their disability, they need to be included in general society but also to be part of the disability community.” Yoav explains, “it is just as important for them to meet children like themselves.”

Beit Issie Shapiro was also invited to present at another CRPD panel, hosted by the Athena Fund. Director of Beit Issie Shapiro’s Technology Center, Noa Nitzan spoke on Assistive Technology during the Corona era.

Beit Issie Shapiro Executive Director Ahmir Lerner shares “We are honored to be a part of the conversation on such a meaningful platform. We are grateful to have these significant discussions on a global scale as we all work to build a more inclusive society that expand opportunity for people with disabilities.”

Watch the Beit Issie Shapiro organized session here: