康復國際于1922年在美國成立，是一個由殘疾人、服務機構、政府部門、專家學者和倡導者組成的國際組織，致力于提高殘疾人生活質量。 1922年2月18日，“國際跛足兒童會”在美國俄亥俄州成立。協會的創建人和首屆會長是美國俄亥俄州的艾德加·F·艾倫。這個很小的協會后來成為今天我們所知道的康復國際。 從1922年到2022年，康復國際從美國中西部的小鎮發展成全球性的網絡，從一個關注殘疾兒童的地方組織，成為推動國際殘疾包容發展的主要力量。 1969年，康復國際設計了國際無障礙標識，之后該標識被國際社會廣泛使用，為殘疾人包容性發展作出重要貢獻。 康復國際為推動聯合國通過《殘疾人權利公約》和實施發揮了引領作用。 1951年，康復國際提出將輪椅體育運動融入康復、休閑和比賽，最終演變成為今天的殘奧會。 1969年，康復國際提出了社區康復理念。從20世紀70年代至今，康復國際一直致力于推廣和發展社區康復的實踐。 首屆國際殘疾人職業技能競賽于1981年舉行，是康復國際支持“國際殘疾人年”的一項倡議。 張海迪于2014年在波蘭當選康復國際主席，并于2016年在康復國際第23屆世界大會正式就任。2018年，張海迪于柏林代表大會再次當選康復國際主席。 2018年，在中國政府支持下，康復國際設立了全球殘疾發展基金和非洲基金。過去四年，兩個基金共資助了30多個項目。這些項目因地制宜，聚焦康復、融合教育、職業培訓、無障礙建設以及殘疾婦女和女童賦權?；鸬脑O立有效地提升了康復國際的國際影響力。 2019年，康復國際設立杰出成就獎，旨在激勵世界上更多的人關注殘疾人事務，激發更多的人為建設更平等、包容和無障礙的社會環境作出更大貢獻。 2019年11月，首屆康復國際杰出貢獻獎在莫斯科揭曉。第73屆聯合國大會主席埃斯皮諾薩、斯里蘭卡眼捐獻協會以及埃塞俄比亞阿爾法聾啞學校分別獲獎。 康復國際與國際竹藤組織在埃塞俄比亞開展“美麗工坊”項目，旨在通過竹藤編織技術培訓，改善當地殘疾婦女的經濟狀況。殘疾婦女是特殊困難群體，康復國際長期以來一直呼吁聯合國關注她們所面臨的特殊挑戰。 為了應對全球新冠肺炎疫情，康復國際通過基金向世界各地的會員組織提供幫助，確保殘疾人及其家人在社區中得到保護。

Rehabilitation International (RI) is a worldwide organization comprised of people with disabilities, service providers, government agencies, academics, researchers and advocates working to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. On February 18, 1922, the“International Society for Crippled Children” was established in Ohio, the US. The founding president is Edgar F. Allen. This tiny society then became RI we know today. From 1922 to 2022, RI grew from its small-town roots in the American mid-West to a global network, and from a local organization focusing on children with disabilities to a driving force in promoting international disability inclusion. The International Symbol of Access,which was designed by RI in 1969 and is being applied universally, has contributed to the movement of disability-inclusive development. RI was a leader in the fight for the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and has doubtlessly added momentum to its implementation. In 1951, wheelchair sports were proposed for rehabilitation, leisure and competition, leading eventually to today’s Paralympics. Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) was proposed by RI in1969. RI continued from the 1970’s forward to today to promote and develop the practice of CBR, as one of its key strategies. The first International Abilympics was held in 1981, as an RI’s initiative to support the International Year for Disabled Persons. Zhang Haidi was elected in Poland in 2014 and assumed the RI presidency at the 23rd RI World Congress in 2016. She was re-elected as President at General Assembly in Berlin in 2018. RI established the Global Disability Development Fund and the Africa Fund in 2018 with the support of the Chinese government. In the past four years, the two Funds have sponsored over 30 projects, focusing rehabilitation, inclusive education, vocational training, accessibility, and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities. The two Funds have proved an effective boost to RI’s international influence. RI set up the Award for Outstanding Achievements in 2019, aiming to draw more attention to disability affairs and inspire greater contributions to a more equal, inclusive, and accessible society worldwide. The Award was conferred for the first time in Moscow in November 2019, to Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, the President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly of the United Nations, Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society and Alpha Special School for the Deaf. Working with International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, RI conducted a BEAUTIFUL CRAFTS WORKSHOP project on improving the economic condition of women with disabilities through capacity building on the use of bamboo in Ethiopia. Women with disabilities are subject to double discrimination, and RI has long called on the United Nations to consider the special challenges they face. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, RI extended help through the funds to member organizations worldwide, ensuring that people with disabilities and their families were protected in their communities.