Ms. Geft, the director of the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance, describes in her lecture the goals of the museum, which make its visitors feel the past, witness history, and see and understand that prejudice and discrimination still exist in all societies. Special stress is given in the lecture to the museum’s activity geared towards raising awareness of the lives of people with disabilities.

Mr. Kathleen Lync, Ireland’s Minister of State for Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability, describes in her lecture the transition from institutional living to life in the community for people with disabilities that occurred in Ireland in consideration of the wishes of the people themselves. 

Ms.  Connie Laurin-Bowie explains how article 19 of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities helps to strengthen communities.

In her lecture, Dr. Zaretsky describes a case study of an organization which has designed and incorporated a client-oriented approach. She recommends expanding the application of this approach, in order to promote the joint vision of equality and inclusion of all.

The lecture explains why planned communities and hostels are not the right solution for people with disabilities, and presents solutions that involve living in the community.

Dr. Roth describes a research study based on an inclusive methodology that sought to explore concepts of independence and dependence among adults with complex learning difficulties and examine whether they are connected to 3 areas: relationships, initiative and views on self value and quality of life. 

The lecture focuses on the importance of self-advocacy for people with autism, as it presents itself in the advanced reforms made in Hungary, such as the “Eight Points” project, and the establishment of the first NGO in Hungary, which is directed and governed by people with autism.

The lecturer describes how his life changed when he joined the movement for self advocacy: he embarked on a journey towards independence, self advocacy and integration in his community’s life in South Africa Efraim is an inspiration to other people with cognitive disabilities.

The lecture describes a plan for how to deal with emergency situations for people with disabilities, their families, officials in charge of emergency response and administration representatives.

Jean Judes – Executive Director, Beit Issie Shapiro
Lecture of Jean Judes, Beit Issie Shapiro’s Executive Director, presented at the UN as part of the Civil Society Forum, on promoting partnerships on a local, national and international level, in order to promote social change.