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Official Designation: International Watch

Scope and Objectives: The purpose of International Watch is to share information on international disability issues and to advise the National Council on Disability on the development of policy proposals that will advocate for a foreign policy that is consistent with the values and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Duration: International Watch will continue to exist for two years from the date of this Charter, unless earlier renewed.

Reporting Relationship: International Watch reports to the National Council on Disability.

Support: National Council on Disability will support the activities of International Watch.

Duties: International Watch will provide advice and recommendations only.

Costs: The estimated annual operating costs associated with supporting International Watch's functions are estimated to be $67,300 per year including all direct and indirect expenses. It is estimated that a staff person will spend approximately 288 hours per year to support International Watch.

Meetings: It is anticipated that International Watch will meet approximately 10 times per year.

Organization: NCD will create any subcommittees which may be necessary to fulfill International Watch's mission. In addition, NCD and International Watch will establish such operating procedures as required to support the group, consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended.

Members: The Committee will consist of not more than 30 members, representing people with a variety of disabling conditions from across the United States.

Date of Termination: Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, International Watch will terminate two years from the date of this charter.

Charter Filing Date: October 18, 2000
Amended: March 22, 2001
Renewal: October 1, 2002

Ethel D. Briggs
Executive Director
National Council on Disability

Section 1. Purpose: The International Watch (IW) was established as a non-paid advisory board of non-government to share information on international disability issues and activities and to advise the National Council on Disability (NCD) on the development of policy proposals and strategies that will advocate for a foreign policy that is consistent with the values and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. NCD's mission is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or significance of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and full inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

Section 2. Authority: The Executive Director of the National Council on Disability has determined that the IW is in the public interest. The IW is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as outlined in its Charter, filed with Congress on October 18, 2000 and amended on March 22, 2001.

Section 3. Functions: In its advisory role to NCD, the IW will perform the following duties:

1. Inform NCD of disability issues and policy developments proposed by world governments and international organizations.
   
   
2. Review and provide comments on NCD's priorities and projects as they relate to foreign policy objectives and activities affecting people with disabilities world-wide.
   
   
3. Enhance NCD's knowledge about how people with disabilities globally are affected by the implementation of federal legislation having international impacts such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Foreign Assistance Act and others.
   
   
4. Form working groups to focus on developing recommended strategies for addressing specific foreign policy issues affecting people with disabilities.
   
   
5. Advise NCD on strategies for pursuing foreign policy changes consistent with the values and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Section 4. Membership: The International Watch shall be comprised both of members appointed by the NCD chairperson and NCD Foreign Policy Team (NCD board members) representing diverse cultural, disability and professional backgrounds, who are knowledgeable about international disability issues and policies.

1. Members of the International Watch shall serve at the discretion of NCD (generally for a two-year term), or until the termination of the International Watch, whichever occurs first in time.
   
   
2. If a member decides to vacate her/his position, the Facilitator will, within 5 days after receipt of the resignation, inform NCD's Foreign Policy Team and request a replacement.
   
   
3. International Watch members will serve without compensation except that NCD will reimburse each member for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in attending the face-to-face meeting (See Section 4, Paragraph B) as well as performing assigned functions and duties, if funds are available. Reimbursable expenses shall be determined by NCD.

Section 5. Meetings and Teleconferences: The Designated Federal Officer (DFO) shall determine the time, place and manner of teleconference calls in consultation with IW members. Face-to-face meetings shall be arranged periodically at the request of the IW members and with the consent of NCD, or at the request of the NCD board.

1. All teleconferences and face-to-face meetings of the International Watch are open to the public and will be held in accessible facilities. Announcements and proceedings of all such meetings will be available in accessible format.
   
   
2. Members of the International Watch will convene for a face-to-face meeting biannually with the concurrence of the NCD board.
   
   
3. In compliance with Federal law requirements for public notice, the announcement of all conference calls and face-to-face meetings of the International Watch will be published in the Federal Register, at least 30 days prior to the conference call or meeting date. International Watch members will also receive a 30-day notice.
   
   
4. The agenda for conference calls or face-to-face meetings of International Watch will conform to specifications (e.g. welcome and introductions, reports on international issues, discussion of relevant issues, reaching consensus on any item (s) intended as advice to NCD, announcements, and adjournment).
   
   
5. A poll may be taken up among members of the International Watch to determine the degree of their consensus on the priorities of international disability issues and their strategy recommendations to NCD.

Section 6. Duties of the IW Facilitator, Designated Federal Officer and Members

1. The NCD Chairperson shall appoint an NCD member to the position of International Watch Facilitator with consent by the NCD board.
   
   
2. The Facilitator will:
   
   
1. Preside at the public bimonthly conference calls and any face-to-face meetings.
   
   
2. Exercise general oversight and coordination of the affairs of the International Watch with NCD's Foreign Policy Team.
   
   
3. Consult with the IW members, as well as NCD board and staff in recommending new IW appointments to the NCD chairperson.
   
   
4. Report all advice and recommendations of the International Watch to the NCD board at its quarterly meetings.
   
   
5. Sign any formal statements of the IW for release to NCD or the public.
   
   
3. The Designated Federal Officer will:
   
   
1. Be present at all public conference calls of the IW working groups.
   
   
2. Ensure that NCD's public affairs officer is notified of all IW meetings for posting in the Federal Register at least 30 days in advance.
   
   
3. Be the communication liaison between the IW and the NCD board and staff through timely distribution of IW meeting notices, agendas and minutes.
   
   
4. Prepare any formal statements of the IW for release to NCD or the public.
   
   
5. Ensure that the IW by-laws, operations and procedures are in conformance with FACA.
   
   
6. Manage and coordinate the overall functions and operation of the International Watch.
   
   
4. Members will:
   
   
1. Attend the teleconferences and meetings of the International Watch.
   
   
2. Work with the Facilitator and Designated Federal Officer in the completion of committee and working group assignments.
   
   
3. Lead the development of strategy recommendations through the strategic policy planning working groups.
   
   
4. Serve on one or more strategic policy planning working groups coinciding with their areas of interest and expertise.

Section 7. Conflict of Interest: In the event that an issue, proposal, or similar matter is presented to the International Watch, resulting in a potential conflict of interest, the affected member shall recuse him or herself from any discussion involving the matter, except points of clarification. For that purpose of these By-Laws, a conflict of interest situation would exist when work that a member is performing for another organization, state, local, or federal agency and the interests of that entity are likely to be impacted by advice or recommendations that the International Team makes to NCD.

Section 8. Term Year: A term year of the International Watch member shall be the same as the fiscal year for NCD (October 1 through September 30).

Section 9. General Communication and Official Statements

1. The Facilitator and the Designated Federal Officer will communicate the business and advice of the IW to the NCD board and staff as outlined in Section 5.
   
   
2. All formal statements of the International Watch shall be prepared by the Designated Federal Officer, approved by the International Watch members and signed by the Facilitator.

Section 10: Parliamentary Authority: The Facilitator will chair each bimonthly teleconference and any face-to-face meeting of the International Watch by acknowledging each member who wishes to speak. Group members will facilitate informal discussion during teleconferences for the strategy planning working groups.

Section 11: Provisions and Amendments: All provisions and proposed amendments to these By-Laws shall be consistent with the approved International Watch charter. Any IW member may propose and present an amendment in accessible format to the Facilitator. The Facilitator will notify the IW members of the proposed amendment at least 30 days prior to the public meeting at which it is to be voted upon. A two-thirds vote of those present is required for ratification. An amendment shall become effective 30 days after ratification.

Section 12: Ratification: The NCD board of directors will ratify these By-Laws for purposes of ensuring their consistency with the charter and By-Laws of the National Council on Disability.

Kathleen Martinez, NCD Member and International Watch Facilitator

Yerker Andersson, Disability Advocate
Rosangela Berman-Bieler, Businesswoman
Judy Brewer, Businesswoman
Marca Bristo, Disability Advocate
Judi Chamberlin. Disability Advocate
Bruce Curtis, Disability Advocate
Don Galloway, State Government Employee
Nora Groce, Ph.D., Educator
Arlene Kanter, Educator
Janet Lord, International Disability Advocate
Jerome Mindes, Disability Consultant
Jean Parker, Businesswoman
Alan Reich, Disability Advocate
Eric Rosenthal, Disability Advocate
Robert Shuckohosee, Disability Advocate
Tina Singleton, International Disability Consultant
William Kennedy Smith, MD, Physician
Susan Sygal, Disability Advocate
Patrishia Wright, Disability Advocate

2005 Meetings
January - November 2005

2004 Meetings
January-November 2004

2003 Meetings
May 20, 2003 - Correction
January-November 2003 - Correction
January-November 2003

2002 Meetings
November 21, 2002
September 26, 2002
January-December 2002

2001 Meetings
October-December 2001
September 20, 2001
September 6, 2001
August 16, 2001
July 19, 2001
June 29, 2001
June 21, 2001
May 30, 2001
May 4, 2001
April 26, 2001
April 12, 2001
March 14, 2001
March 8, 2001
February 15, 2001

2000 Meetings
December 13, 2000
October 16, 2000

2004 Minutes
September 2, 2004
July 8, 2004
May 6, 2004
March 4, 2004
January 15, 2004

2003 Minutes
November 6, 2003
September 4, 2003
July 3, 2003
May 20, 2003
March 13, 2003
January 9, 2003

2002 Minutes
November 21, 2002
September 26, 2002
May 16, 2002
April 18, 2002
March 21, 2002
February 22, 2002
January 16, 2002

2001 Minutes
December 20, 2001
December 6, 2001
October 18, 2001
September 20, 2001
August 16, 2001
July 19, 2001
June 29, 2001
June 21, 2001
May 30, 2001
May 4, 2001
April 26, 2001
April 12, 2001
March 14, 2001
March 8, 2001
February 15, 2001

2000 Minutes
December 13, 2000
October 16, 2000

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (July 25-26, 2004)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (April 13-14, 2004)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (February 8-9, 2004)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (November 22-23, 2003)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (August 21, 2003)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (June 23-24, 2003)

International Watch Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (March 5-6, 2003)

International Watch Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (December 4-5, 2002)

International Watch Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (August 19-20, 2002)

International Watch Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (June 10-11, 2002)

Summit on Human Rights and Disability (April 8, 2002)

National Council on Disability, Summary of International Watch Recommendations for NCD Consideration and Action (April 6-7, 2000) (26K) (PDF, 51K)

International Watch Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (February 4-5, 2002)

International Watch Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (November 5, 2001)

Resources

An International Disability and Human Rights Convention: What you need to know about international human rights law and efforts to gain equality and justice for people with disabilities in the US and abroad (PDF)

Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

A Reference Tool: Understanding the Potential Content and Structure of an International Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities

Remarks and Presentations at NCD's Release of Understanding the Role of an International Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities, June 12, 2002, by Marca Bristo, Wade Henderson, Holly Burkhalter

White Paper - Understanding the Role of an International Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities (PDF)

Joan M. Durocher, Attorney Advisor
National Council on Disability
jdurocher@ncd.gov
202-272-2117
202-272-2074
202-272-2022 Fax