The Foreign Service Journal, December 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2015 31 Kindness and Assistive Technology from Utah BYALICEWILLIAMS A s the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy’s marketing and communications coordinator, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a range of inspiring and passionate individuals who visit our state through the International Visitor Leadership Program and commit to do positive work on their return home. I am touched by each and every participant with whomwe work. It’s a privilege to host them. Allowme to share the story of an act of generosity that fully defines the term “citizen diplomacy.” In July, the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy hosted a group of IVLP par- ticipants frommany different African coun- tries for a program, “Disability Issues in the United States.” The programwas designed to acquaint participants with the policies, best practices and challenges involved in improving access, opportunities and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. All participants were advocates for the rights of the disabled. Most struggled with a disability themselves or had a similarly challenged close family member. Their visit to Utah was life-changing. We arranged a lot of meetings with peer organizations for our visitors, but the one to the Utah Center for Assistive Technology stood out. That organization helps people without the means to afford assistive technology, and designs smart and practical tools for people with disabilities. Many African countries cannot obtain the technology-dependent tools that are common in the United States, which support improved access for people with disabilities. After the meeting, Utah Center staff presented two wheel- Abdel Ouorou Bare’s Beninese basketball team participated in a tournament for wheelchair-bound players. COURTESTY OF ALICE WILLIAMS