named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Commission on Education
Advises on creating and promoting educational opportunities for children and youth with disabilities.
Commission on Health and Function
Promotes well-being, disability prevention, and gender-sensitive rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities.
Commission on Leisure, Recreation & Physical Activities
Promotes the right to participate in educational, physical, social, and cultural activities for persons with disabilities.
Commission on Policy and Service
Analyzes regional policies and programs in relation to UN CRPD implementation.
Commission on Work and Employment
Promotes the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in labor, trade unions, and integrated work settings.
International Commission on Technology and Accessibility (ICTA)
Advances accessible built and virtual environments, assistive technology, and universal design.
International Symbol of Access
Created and governs the use of the International Symbol of Access, a globally recognized symbol for accessibility.
Social Commission
Supports psychosocial functioning and societal participation of people with disabilities through evidence-based practice.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 5 activities
- Advocacy for adoption and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)Led global campaigns for the drafting, adoption, and implementation of the UN CRPD through advocacy activities including expert meetings, legal analysis, government engagement, press releases, publications, and training programs.
- Capacity-building through expert commissions and global congressesOperates seven specialized commissions to identify key disability issues and develop action agendas; hosts and facilitates global events such as the Rehabilitation International World Congress and issues calls for future host organizations to strengthen international collaboration and organizational capacity.
- Conducting foundational global disability researchConducted the first global survey on disability and developed the conceptual foundation for community-based rehabilitation; launched a new journal to advance global disability research and issued calls for scholarly contributions.
- Global disability rights advocacy and policy developmentAdvances disability rights through international policy advocacy, including issuing public statements on human rights (e.g., in conflict zones), promoting the Beijing Declaration and Charter for the Third Millennium, and supporting legal reforms in countries like Mexico and Argentina to expand healthcare and pensions for people with disabilities.
- Supporting youth engagement in disability rightsLaunched the RI Youth Forum to engage and empower young people as advocates in disability rights and inclusion efforts.
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Disaster Relief and Recovery Services 1 activity
- Direct service delivery in rehabilitation and disability inclusionProvided historical relief and rehabilitation services post-World War I; supports access to habilitation and rehabilitation services, implements disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction programs, and works to increase access to education for children with disabilities in developing countries.
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Fundraising and Financial Support for IDD Services 1 activity
- Funding inclusion projects through grantmaking initiativesFunds projects that promote inclusion of people with disabilities in areas such as rehabilitation, education, employment, accessibility, and poverty alleviation through targeted grant programs including the Global Disability Development Fund and the Africa Fund.
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Nonprofit Real Estate Holding 1 activity
- Real estate and investment management for the FoundationManages real estate assets for the RI Foundation and serves as liaison between the investment firm and the Foundation's Board of Directors.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Design and advocacy for the International Symbol of AccessDesigned, introduced, and promoted the International Symbol of Access in 1969, and established policies to govern its use, contributing to global disability-inclusive development.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$49K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$49K100%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$92K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$2.84M
Cash$0
Investments$1.87M
Liabilities$370
Net assets$2.84M
Liquid reserves244.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +24.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 10
- Dr Med Prof Christoph Gutenbrunner — President
- Hon Susan Parker — Treasurer
- Madam Haidi Zhang — President (part year) /Member
- Madam Lee Chul Jae — Member
- Madam Seem Tuli — Member
- Mr Jan Monsbakken — Member
- Mr Joseph Kwok — Member (part year)
- Mr Khaled El-Mohtar — Member
- Mr Mark Webber Esq — Member
- Prof Dr Joachim Breuer — Member
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- 3M Corporation Partner — Partnered to manufacture and distribute mass quantities of International Symbol of Access signs globally.
- Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust Partner — Shares regional updates from the Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust as part of RI's global network.
- International Labor Organization Government — Maintains official relations with the International Labor Organization.
- International Labor Organization Partner — Collaborates with ILO on development cooperation initiatives.
- International Organization for Standardization Government — Provided early endorsement of the International Symbol of Access, supporting its global standardization.
- League of Nations Government — Petitioned to establish an office for collecting disability-related statistics
- RI members Partner — Collaborates with RI members to implement projects and distribute grants globally.
- Rehabilitation International Network — Global network of organizations and individuals working to advance disability rights and inclusion
- Rehabilitation International Network — RI Foundation is a member of the Rehabilitation International global network.
- Rehabilitation International Network — RI Foundation is affiliated with Rehabilitation International, of which the Treasurer is an elected officer.
- Rehabilitation International Network — RI Foundation is part of the global Rehabilitation International network.
- Rehabilitation International Partner — Primary affiliated organization whose goals and programs are advanced by RI Foundation
- Seton Identification Products Partner — Partnered to manufacture and distribute mass quantities of International Symbol of Access signs globally.
- UNDP Partner — Works with UNDP to eradicate poverty and support sustainable development.
- UNESCO Partner — Partners with UNESCO to promote education, science, and culture for global understanding.
- UNICEF Partner — Collaborates with UNICEF to support disadvantaged children and adolescents worldwide.
- USCID Partner — USCID is the U.S. affiliate of Rehabilitation International, with shared governance and mission alignment.
- United Nations Government — Engages with the United Nations on disability rights, particularly in advocacy for ratification of the CRPD.
- United Nations Government — Partnered in the campaign for the drafting and adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- United Nations Government — Provided universal endorsement of the International Symbol of Access, enhancing its global adoption.
- United Nations Government — RI Secretariat advocates for disability rights and inclusion at the United Nations.
- United Nations Government — Relevance of RI Foundation's work is evaluated by the United Nations for continued qualification.
- United Nations Network — Engages with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to advance disability rights globally.
- United Nations Partner — Collaborates with the United Nations as a global forum for addressing transnational issues.
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Government — Participates in and reports on developments from the 18th Session of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18).
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Government — Holds consultative status with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs for advocacy efforts.
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Government — RI has consultative status with UN DESA, enabling participation in international advocacy efforts.
- United Nations Population Fund Government — Maintains official relations with the United Nations Population Fund.
- United Nations Population Fund Partner — Partners with UNFPA on sexual and reproductive health initiatives.
- World Health Organization Government — Maintains official relations with the World Health Organization.
+ 2 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Based and Inclusive Systems Integrationmethodology: community-based rehabilitationBy embedding disability services within existing community systems—such as education, employment, and health—the organization ensures sustainable inclusion, because integration fosters ownership, reduces stigma, and aligns with rights-based principles of non-segregation.
- Global Advocacy Through Local-Global Collaborationmethodology: global-local collaborationBy combining international expertise and UN-level advocacy with local knowledge and decentralized implementation, the organization amplifies impact across levels, because global legitimacy and policy influence are strengthened through grounded, contextually relevant programming.
- Rights-Based Approach Over Charity Modelmethodology: rights-over-charityBy advancing legal recognition and empowerment over charitable aid, the organization fosters sustainable inclusion and systemic change for persons with disabilities, because rights-based frameworks create enforceable claims and shift societal responsibility to remove barriers.
- Universal Design as a Pathway to Participationmethodology: universal_designBy promoting universally designed environments and assistive technologies, the organization enables full societal participation of persons with disabilities, because removing physical and digital barriers allows equitable access to education, employment, and public life.