In June, VALID was proud to see Luke Nelson represent us, and Inclusion Australia, at the 17th Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in New York.
Describing the event as “fantastic and eye-opening,” Luke joined advocates and government representatives from around the world to discuss disability rights and inclusion. Over the course of 58 events, he heard powerful stories from First Nations people, learned about inclusive education reforms in India, and explored new models of disability funding from South Korea.
A standout moment came when Claire Gibalini from the National Disability Research Partnership spoke about “the importance of including the LGBTQA+ disability community in research and policy,” a message that resonated deeply with Luke.
Luke also stepped up to the microphone himself, delivering a speech on Artificial Intelligence and accessibility. “AI can be useful,” he said, “but we must remember that many people with disabilities still can’t use technology or access basic digital tools. Under the CRPD, it’s our right to get information in accessible formats, we can’t let technology leave people behind.”
It was a proud moment for Luke and for VALID. His leadership on the world stage reflects our mission to support people with intellectual disabilities to speak up and be heard.
As Luke said: “It will be an amazing opportunity for more people with disabilities to have their voices heard on the world stage.”