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International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Posted on 29/11/2018

While you may be counting down the days to Christmas, as a communication disability charity we’ve been looking forward to a different date in December and one with huge significance. The 3rd of December is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, that celebrates more than 1 billion people globally who have a disability. This day of recognition is given a theme every year, with 2018’s theme being: ‘empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’.

An Agenda of Change

As with all years, the theme is decided by the United Nations, who formed the day officially in 1992, with this year’s theme forming a larger agenda; The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agenda pledges to ‘leave no one behind’ and as a communication disability charity whose motto is to ‘see the person and not the disability’ we can’t help but get behind this fantastic cause.

The day aims to promote awareness of the challenges disabled people face, as well as the role communities & societies play in accelerating the eradication of barriers to inclusion, equity, participation and citizenship. In other words, everyone disabled or otherwise can do their bit to challenge social stigmas and work towards equality for all.

Every year, the official IDPWD website sells corporate awareness kits and encourages others to raise funds which are used towards the funding of social enterprises that are contributed to in some way by those with disabilities. According to their site, every year the funds raised go towards:

  • At least five Social Enterprises to be created every year;
  • People living with disabilities, their friends, families and supporters to submit Social Enterprise concepts which are assessed and selected by our panel of experts;
  • A Business Mentor to be engaged with the Social Enterprise for the first year, and to offer support to undertake Business Name registration, establish business structures, prepare Business and Marketing Plans, build a website, generate a client base and employ staff;
  • Provide start-up funds for the business to get off the ground during the first year.

 

To learn more about the IDPWD visit their website here.  Alternatively, if you would like to do your bit for the inclusion of disabled people, you can donate to our communication disability charity here.