The Dubai School of Government, In collaboration with the Victor Pineda Foundation, cordially invites you to participate in a Disability Policy Series Location: Dubai School of Government (see location map) Dates: August 8, October 4 Time: 10:30 – 12:00 (seminar); 12:00 – 1:00 (light lunch), 1:00 – 3:00 (discussion/workshop) RSVP for each session to info@dsg.ac.ae. For updated information on the Disability Policy Series, check the DSG Web site. By stimulating discussion and research in the field of disability policy in the UAE, and especially in the Emirates of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, the series aims to empower persons with disabilities and enable organizations and societies to utilize their full potential. Special attention will be given to the development and implementation of UAE Federal Law No. 29, ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and the role and development of special needs organizations within the UAE. The Disability Policy Series is made possible through the generous support of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research (SSFPR). Attendees will include persons with disabilities, parents and family members of persons with disabilities, policy leaders, service providers and managers from the UAE. Participants are welcome to attend individual sessions or the entire series. Schedule August 8: Progress towards Disability Rights and Policies in the UAE 1. Voices and discussions with families, service providers, managers and people with disabilities in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah 2. State of Federal Law. 29, practical progress and policy assessments October 4: Empowerment and Strengthening Implementation 1. Discussion on advocacy and empowerment with families, service providers, managers and people with disabilities in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah 2. Policy and action by policy leaders, managers, service providers, families and people with disabilities living in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah 3. Capacity building workshop and discussions with people with disabilities living in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, local strategies for cooperative action, new partnerships and sustainable implementation About Victor Pineda Victor Pineda (MCP, C. Phil) is an expert in disability policy, planning and regional development. He has advised international agencies such as the World Bank and United Nations, as well as state and federal governments, in the development and implementation of programs and policies that include people with disabilities. In 2009, he joined the Dubai School of Government as a Visiting Scholar to study the implementation of the UAE Disability Act of 2006 across three sectors: education, employment, and transportation. Mr. Pineda has presented his work to the US Senate Committee on Foreign Aid and worked as an associate with the US Treasury. Mr. Pineda studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he obtained degrees in Political Economy, Business Administration, and a master’s in City and Regional Planning. He is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of California Los Angeles’ School for Public Affairs, and a Fulbright-Hays Fellow at the Dubai School of Government. About the Foundation The Victor Pineda Foundation (VPF) is an educational non-profit organization that promotes the rights and dignities of young people with disabilities. The foundation’s international fieldwork and research initiatives further an inclusive human and civil rights approach to disability programs and policies. About the Dubai School of Government The Dubai School of Government (DSG) is a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world. Established in 2005 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, DSG aims to promote good governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy. Toward this goal, the Dubai School of Government also collaborates with regional and global institutions in delivering its research and training programs. In addition, the School organizes policy forums and international conferences to facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote critical debate on public policy in the Arab world.