International Day of People with Disabilities

The 3^rd of December will see the return of the International Day of People with Disabilities.  The event, run by the United Nations was introduced in 1992 to celebrate diversity, raise awareness of disability and to improve the opportunities that many disabled people miss out on.

Invisible Disabilities

Each year’s celebrations are tied to a theme, with 2020 focusing on hidden disabilities.  The World Health Organisation recently revealed that 15% of the worldwide population is classed as disabled.  What’s more, in the UK, one in five people have some form of disability, with a huge 80% of disabilities defined as ‘hidden’.  These invisible conditions can be neurological, learning, sensory or physical and cannot be seen by others.  Because people with hidden disabilities might not use mobility aids, or drive wheelchair accessible vehicles or mobility cars, they often face stigma and prejudice for not ‘looking disabled’.

Promote Inclusivity

Since kicking off in 1992, the International Day of People with Disabilities has been commemorated at the United Nations headquarters in New York.  It’s marked annually by a series of meetings, discussions and social events with an overarching aim focusing on ways to improve the lives of disabled people.  Past themes have included helping disabled people live more independent lives by making accessible housing more available, pushing to get fairer opportunities in the workplace for disabled employees and promoting more accessibility for disabled users online.  This year’s hidden disability theme hopes to promote inclusivity within the disabled community and an understanding of people’s individual struggles, even if they’re not outwardly obvious.

Celebrate Diversity

The hidden disability theme has been, in-part, inspired by the global pandemic we’ve faced during 2020.  Throughout the year, there has been a growing awareness of the range of disabilities people live with, especially conditions that make them unable to follow the health advice to wear a facemask in public.  Some companies and charities have taken steps to help disabled people get the message across.  Sunflower lanyards have become a widely used way of signalling to others that the wearer has a disability and may require additional support or to show they have a sensory condition and cannot wear a mask.  Euan’s Guide has also released a range of badges to make people aware they’re facemask exempt due to their disability.

Find out more about the International Day of People with Disabilities or donate to the cause by visiting their website on https://idpwd.org/