At IIE, we believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) are critically important to engaging thoughtfully with the world and remain deeply committed to these principles. To support an inclusive culture of belonging, we are proud to support internal affinity groups, including the Dis/Ability and Accessibility Affinity Group. The groups – which also include Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage; Black Heritage; Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Affinity; LGBTQIA+; and Mental Health and Wellbeing – are a key part of IIE’s people-driven approach to pursuing and advancing its DEIA Commitment. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was first officially recognized by the United Nations in 1992 to “promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.”
In commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, IIE is pleased to feature Dev Dhatta Joshi’s final installment from the IIE Centennial Fellows Blog. IIE selected Dev Datta Joshi as a 2022-2023 IIE Centennial Fellow to continue his work advocating for persons with disabilities and particularly the challenges faced by refugees with disabilities.
Dev Datta Joshi’s Centennial project worked to increase education opportunities for refugees with disabilities by engaging those with disabilities, policymakers, and university deans on the boundaries limiting refugees with disabilities access to higher education. Joshi has been advancing disability rights nationally in Nepal and internationally for over 20 years. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Equip for Equality Nepal (EEN) which develops and implements, innovative projects such as “The Role of Civil Society Organizations and Movements in the Fight against Racism and Discrimination”. As a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, he pursued coursework on asylum and refugee law at American University’s Washington College of Law.