A Conversation with Mohammed Ali Loutfy

Speakers

Mohammed Ali Loutfy
Mohammed Ali Loutfy
Director of Capacity Building and Advocacy at G3ict – The Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs
Jonathan Martinis
Jonathan Martinis
Senior Director for Law and Policy

Description:

In this episode of “504 at 50,” Dr. Mohammed Ali Loutfy, director of advocacy and capacity building at Global Initiative for Inclusive Innovation and Communication Technologies (G3ICT) and former executive director of Disabled People’s International, speaks to Jonathan Martinis about his experiences of becoming disabled and becoming a global disability activist. He shares his experiences of being denied admission to law school, advocating for the civil rights of people with disabilities in both his home country of Lebanon and the United States, and learning about how different countries view disability. Though the American approach to disability is often criticized, it is a vast improvement over Lebanon.

Dr. Loutfy also discusses the lessons he has learned as a blind person throughout his career, including his time at the World Bank and as Executive Director of Disabled People’s International (DPI). He emphasizes that the number of people with disabilities is increasing, and we must overhaul the current welfare systems. He describes the importance, particularly in developing countries, of disabled people having opportunities to engage in the various aspects of community development.

Summary

  • Loutfy describes his experiences of becoming disabled and becoming a global disability activist.
  • He shares his experiences of being denied admission to law school, advocating for the civil rights of people with disabilities in both his home country of Lebanon and the United States, and learning about how different countries view disability. Though the American approach to disability is often criticized, it is a vast improvement over Lebanon.
  • Loutfy also discusses the lessons he has learned as a blind person throughout his career, including his time at the World Bank and as Executive Director of Disabled People’s International (DPI).
  • He emphasizes that the number of people with disabilities is increasing, and we must overhaul the current welfare systems.
  • He describes the importance, particularly in developing countries, of disabled people having opportunities to engage in the various aspects of community development.