This week Dementia Alliance International (DAI) is representing its members, and indeed, all people with dementia globally in New York at the Conference Of the State Parties (COSP) on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Christine Thelker braved travelling alone from Canada, and arrived in spite of a complete lack of disability support from Westjet airlines. Kate Swaffer traveller"d from Australia, also alone thankfully with excellent disability support. Airlines and airports in particular have a long way to go!
DAI is very blessed to also have a volunteer attend to support them this year, Tamara Claunch from Houston, who's also a member of our soon to be announced Professional Advisory Council.
Remarkably, she has self funded to support our organisation, and we thank her sincerely for this incredibly generous gift to us all.
Stay tuned here, as our next blog will provide the times and the link to the first ever Side Event at this Conference on dementia as a disability.
The link to the United Nations live tv can be accessed here to watch the proceedings.
It may not be obvious to all, but this week really is one of the most significant actions of advocacy to improve the lives of 50 million people currently living with dementia.