Honoring The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities & Celebrating The International Day of Play
June 9-11, 2026 | New York City
Twenty years ago, the world adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), affirming that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else and must be able to participate fully in society.
Earlier this month, members of the CPF team went to the United Nations to dialogue with other international leaders at the 19th Conference of State Parties (COSP19) to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Convention gave us an original vision, but we know that disability rights on paper do not automatically translate into disability rights in practice.
We see this reality every day. We see families struggling to access services. We see inequities in healthcare, education, employment, and community participation. We see the gaps that still exist between expectation and reality.
Our Executive Director, Rachel Byrne, spoke at the Convention, stating:
“When everyone is partially responsible, too often no one is fully accountable…People with disabilities and their families should not have to compensate for systems that fail to respond. Our goal should not be to build more resilient people. Our goal should be to build more responsive systems, supportive communities, and policies that provide protection, opportunity, and dignity.”
So, the question for the next 20 years is not whether we have the framework. The CRPD provides a framework, but for the next 20 years our question is now: how do we continue to create measurable change?
Doing so will require us to keep asking difficult questions:
Are policies translating into better outcomes?
Are people with disabilities meaningfully involved in decision-making?
Are we investing in evidence, innovation, and systems change?
Are we measuring what matters?
At CPF, we see our role not as just advocating for change, but helping to make it happen. That means advancing research that can improve lives. Building partnerships that accelerate progress. Elevating the voices of people with lived experience. Challenging systems when they fall short. And remaining focused on our mission, even when change takes longer than we would like.
In celebration of the International Day of Play on June 11, we’re excited to highlight a special United Nations side event as part of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19). At UNICEF House in New York City, we gathered to talk about the important role of play in the lives of children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
Play is one of the earliest building blocks of lifelong health, learning, confidence, and participation. Through inclusive play, children develop the skills, relationships, and opportunities that support lifelong possibilities and opportunities in school, sports, employment, and community life. Play transforms lives.
We heard from some incredible panelists who shared their lived experience as advocates, policy leaders, entrepreneurs, clinicians, and parents. The Cerebral Palsy Foundation was represented by Rachel Byrne, Executive Director, Cynthia Frisina, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, and Jennifer Lyman, Director of Clinical Recruitment and Community Resources.
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is proud to have supported this event in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the United Nations, UNICEF, the International Cerebral Palsy Society, Special Olympics, and Gillette Childrens.