Bill Overview
Title: International Children with Disabilities Protection Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes the International Children with Disabilities Protection Program in the Department of State to assist organizations of persons with disabilities and family members of children with disabilities in communicating about and advocating for policies that ensure the family inclusion and transition to independent living of children with disabilities.
Sponsors: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Target Audience
Population: Children with disabilities and their families
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill focuses on children with disabilities and their families globally by establishing a program through the Department of State.
- The program aims to provide assistance to organizations that support persons with disabilities, specifically those related to children.
- Efforts are aimed at family inclusion and transitioning children with disabilities to independent living.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets organizations of children with disabilities, but the effect trickles down to affected families in the US.
- Given the budget limitations and the global focus of the program, the direct impact on any single US family may be low.
- Wellbeing improvements in the first year may be minimal due to initial establishment phases, but positive effects could emerge as advocacy improves over time.
- Urban residents with better access to organizations will likely see more of an impact compared to rural residents with fewer local resources.
- Psychological well-being may improve for families who gain better access to advocacy resources and support networks.
- State-level differences in inclusion policies may modulate the impact of the international policy locally.
- The eventual increase in independent living resources would slowly contribute to overall family wellbeing.
- Direct financial or service aid to families is unlikely, but resource networks might bolster local advocacy.
- Awareness of available resources and global advocacy efforts likely result in small improvements in self-reported wellbeing over decades.
- Since the focus is international, some US respondents may see little to no change in wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Parent Advocate (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential in increasing international awareness, but I'm skeptical of immediate local impact.
- Any additional resources for advocacy are positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Farm Manager (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel isolated in rural areas, and a global policy seems distant to our daily struggles.
- It might help urban areas more.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seems like a good step for comprehensive resources globally, which can benefit us too.
- I think advocacy work here can incorporate what’s learned.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Disability Rights Lawyer (New York, NY)
Age: 54 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a substantial step toward international advocacy for disability rights.
- Sharing global insights can strengthen local efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
Teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhancing advocacy sounds beneficial theoretically, but I’m unsure of practical changes.
- If it leads to better teaching resources globally, that could help us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Non-profit Director (Boston, MA)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a strategically positive move.
- Increased networks may help U.S. similar groups enhance effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graduate Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Global advocacy can amplify our local causes effectively.
- I believe in integrating inclusive technology trends worldwide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired public service worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope it brings attention, though it seems quite broad.
- Support for specific disabilities might get diluted worldwide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
IT Consultant (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If global insights lead to more local tech adoption, it could be beneficial.
- Program focus is crucial; broadness dilutes impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Stay-at-home Mom (Miami, FL)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Virtual advocacy seems the most relevant part for us.
- Hope for shared resources across international groups.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The program will require coordination with various international organizations, which may affect the speed and efficiency of implementation.
- Potential overlaps with existing programs supporting children with disabilities should be identified to avoid duplication.
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are crucial for assessing the impact of advocacy and policy changes over time.