This bill establishes a comprehensive international disability rights policy framework at the State Department. The legislation requires the Secretary of State to create a formal disability inclusion policy within one year and establish a new Office of International Disability Rights headed by an Ambassador-at-Large who will coordinate government-wide efforts to advance disability rights abroad. The bill directs the State Department to develop an international disability rights strategy within 180 days, identify priority countries for assistance, and submit annual reports to Congress on progress and spending.
The legislation also mandates improvements for employees with disabilities, requiring the State Department to ensure embassy facilities and websites meet accessibility standards, prioritize hiring and placement of Foreign Service officers with disabilities, and implement mandatory disability inclusion training for all personnel. Additionally, the bill authorizes the creation of the Judy Heumann Foreign Service Disability Fellowship program to place 5 to 10 fellows annually at disability rights organizations to build expertise within the department.
The bill authorizes $6 million annually from 2024 through 2027 to support these initiatives. Congress emphasizes that disability inclusion should be mainstreamed across all foreign assistance programs, recognizing that over one billion people with disabilities exist globally, with particular vulnerabilities for women and children with disabilities.
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