Executive
Director's Corner
 Welcome
to the second issue of our newsletter, now named
The
IDPP Access. This
past month brought exciting events related to
international disability policy, including the
announcement that Indonesia will ratify the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD), and a visit from more than 12
Rectors and their staff at universities across
Indonesia to American University. News of the CIDP
Master's program for 2012 admission has circulated
globally as a result of our collective efforts to
reach potential candidates near and far. Our
thoughts continue to stay with those in Thailand,
Cambodia, and Vietnam who have experienced
flooding; we wish all affected by the devastation
a full recovery. As we continue to strengthen our
global network and communicate our latest
initiatives, we welcome your feedback. Thank
you.
CIDP Master's
Program
Applications Now
Accepted for Fall 2012!
 Applications
are now being accepted for the Master's
of International Affairs in Comparative and
International Disability Policy (CIDP)
program for Fall 2012. CIDP is the world’s first
virtual Master’s program on disability policy.
Offered by American
University's School of International
Service, the Master's degree is the
centerpiece program of the Institute on Disability
and Public Policy for the ASEAN region. The
program’s cyberinfrastructure cuts across
geographic boundaries, allowing faculty to teach
and students to be taught entirely online. Anyone
from around the world can apply. Application
deadline is 15 January. Learn
More
Continuing
Education & Certificate
Program
Successful First
Skills Institute
 The
inaugural skills institute offered in the CIDP
curriculum - English Skills for Research and
Writing on Disability Policy - has come to a close
with significant progress made by students. The
course offered in-depth training to help students
develop highly specialized vocabulary, writing
skills, and research protocols within the CIDP
program. Students reported enjoying the sessions.
Class participation and coursework writing have
visibly improved, preparing students for their
forthcoming Master's research requirements and
their roles as future policy leaders. Thank you to
Ms. Kelly Wiechart, Lead Language Specialist at American
University’s Intercultural Management
Institute, for teaching the
course.
Outreach &
Capacity Building
Upcoming Launch
of DSS Network
The
Disability Support Services (DSS) Network will
foster collaboration among IDPP partner
institutions to strengthen disability support
practices at individual institutions. The network
will ensure that students with disabilities have
the resources necessary to reach their full
academic potential. The network will hold annual
workshops through which partners can share DSS
promising practices. Resources across institutions
will be compiled, analyzed, and made available to
partners. In alignment with the ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community, the network supports
ASEAN member countries’ efforts to foster an
inclusive citizen community. Formal invitations to
join the network will be sent to each partner
institution.
Collaborative
Research
IDPP Presents at
ISA-South
 An
IDPP/COTELCO
delegation presented at the International Studies
Association's South Region Conference at Elon
University in North Carolina, USA. The panel,
entitled Strength
in Numbers: Exploring the Potential of
Cyberlearning to Facilitate Distributed Human
Capacity Development in Disability and Public
Policy in the ASEAN Region, delivered
a comprehensive overview of the IDPP, while
methodically examining specific aspects of its
globally-networked community. Learn
More
Events
Strengthened Ties
with Indonesian
Universities
 A
delegation of more than 12 Rectors and their staff
from universities across Indonesia visited American
University on 1 November for a briefing
and campus tour hosted by the ASEAN Studies Center
and the Office of International Program
Development at the School
of International Service to commence an
American University-Gadjah Mada University
Exchange Program. The delegation included Dr.
Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri, Rector of the University
of Indonesia, an IDPP partner
institution. Dr. Derrick L. Cogburn, IDPP/COTELCO
Executive Director, presented the IDPP to the
delegation, which received a great amount of
interest. Learn
More
IDPP
Presence at Accessibility
Camp
 The
IDPP and COTELCO
co-sponsored and attended Accessibility Camp in
Washington, DC, USA. The event, organized by local
community members, is an annual gathering of
individuals interested in accessibility issues.
The forum consisted of presentations by
professionals who work and/or hold expertise in
accessibility. IDPP staff connected with
colleagues with whom they had previously
collaborated, and met individuals from across the
globe who have experience making information
platforms more accessible. Learn
More
CIDP Student
Highlight
Ms. Della Leonor
Represents PWDs Sector at Philippines NAPC
National Sectoral Assembly
 CIDP
student Ms. Della Leonor was invited to represent
the persons with disabilities (PWDs) sector at the
Philippines National Anti-Poverty Commission’s
(NAPC) National Sectoral Assembly from 17-20
October. NAPC is the Philippines government’s
chief agency for poverty reduction. As an official
member of the NAPC Council, Della coordinated with
the sector council on projects, feedback, and
concerns pertaining to PWDs. She also assisted in
formulating a five year plan of action for the
PWDs sector, including the implementation of
accessibility laws, and addressing the lack of
awareness surrounding PWDs and laws related to the
CRPD. With almost 1,500 participants from 14
sectors in attendance, the event featured
President Benigno Aquino III (Philippines) as a
keynote speaker, and hosted dignitaries from major
offices of the Philippines
government.
Details
are an account from the student
attendee. | 
