In addition to basic project management skills, DPOs generally lack capacity in elections and the intersection of political processes and disability. An exception to this trend is Indonesia, where the Center for Election Access of Persons with Disabilities, a DPO, advocates for the political and electoral rights of persons with disabilities. This DPO was founded after the fall of a dictator, because the disability community did not want to be left out of the new push for democracy. Most DPOs require training on the electoral process, the CRPD and relevant local laws before they are able to implement democracy and governance programming and be effective advocates. Good Practice Students from a civic education class in Georgia recorded an audio copy of their textbook Democracy and Citizenship. They became advocates for promoting access to university-level civic education for students with visual disabilities and have distributed CDs of the book to youth who are blind. Section 4 It is also often necessary to train DPOs on rights-based advocacy. Many DPOs focus solely on provision of services and could benefit from rights-based advocacy training. Along with direct links to the EMB, targeted advocacy to members of parliament and legislative committees responsible for overseeing the activities of the EMB helps ensure proper implementation of existing regulations. Not only does this provide an additional space to advocate for equal access, but it ensures the legislature does not impede gains made with the EMB and broadens the network of decision-makers familiar with barriers encountered by persons with disabilities. In many developing democracies, legislative oversight processes are still in the early stages, providing another opportunity for DPOs to set a positive precedent. Assistance programs to DPOs on advocacy initiatives would benefit from building the capacity of DPOs to interact with EMBs, the legislature and national human rights bodies. Election Commissioner Selection Criteria Potential election commissioners must meet an array of selection criteria, but knowledge of disability inclusive policies and procedures is rarely evaluated. Some EMBs, such as the Philippines Commission on Elections (COMELEC), appoint a specific commissioner responsible for disability rights. However, these commissioners do not always have a disability rights background. Inclusive Civic Education Civic education should happen throughout the electoral cycle, but it is addressed in the post-electoral section of this manual, as this period serves as a useful time during which to reflect on the recent election and any gaps in knowledge of the electorate. Civic education describes the rights and duties of citizenship. Knowing the role of government, citizens and relevant laws can empower individuals to play a more active role in shaping their society. In Georgia, an IFES-developed university civics course highlights the rights of all citizens, including those with disabilities. During reviews of the course, one student said, “We don’t see persons with disabilities. Before we hadn’t thought about these people, now we see they deserve the same social rights, rights to education and the electoral process. We shouldn’t have a society where people are separated.” University students in Georgia record a civic education book onto CDs. Equal Access: How to Include Persons with Disabilities in Elections and Political Processes 61