International Day for People with Disabilities: What You Need to Know

Today is the International Day of People with Disabilities. This day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2008 to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, equality, development, and well-being of all persons with disabilities around the world. This day aims to create a global awareness of disability issues while generating solidarity between people living with disabilities on an international level.
This day has become one of the most important events on the United Nations calendar that aims to bring attention to disability issues and mobilize public action towards bettering the lives of specially-abled people. Here are these six things you need to know about this very important day!

What is the International Day of People with Disabilities?

The International Day of People with Disabilities was first observed on December 3, 2008. This day is an effort to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people living with disabilities and to mobilize public support for the rights and dignity of these individuals.
This day is observed by people all around the world who are committed to securing a better future for all persons with disabilities. It's observed by individuals, governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, employers, educators, parents, families— really anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of differently-abled people.

Why was the day established?

The idea for this day came from a UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities meeting in 2006. It is now celebrated as a way to honor those living with disabilities and as a way to ensure that their voices are heard.
It can be difficult for those living with disabilities to get recognition or attention because many different groups share similar needs. However, this international day aims to bring people together no matter what disability they may have and unite them to create a better future for all people living with disabilities.

What does it mean for people with disabilities?

The day is a reminder that people with disabilities are a minority group that continues to face many barriers towards full and equal participation in society. The day offers an opportunity for policy leaders, service providers, and other stakeholders to focus on disability issues and recommit to improving the lives of people living with disabilities. It also offers an opportunity for all of us to live more inclusive lives by recognizing those who may be different from us.

How can you make a difference?

In 2015, about 650 million people had a disability in the world. In many countries around the world, people with disabilities are marginalized and excluded from society. This day aims to raise awareness of disability issues and mobilize ever-essential support!
One way you can make a difference is by investing in inclusive design for your business. The inclusive design focuses on designing products that are accessible to everyone, rather than just a few users or customers. It includes designing for people with disabilities, elderly people, and also those without English as their first language.
It means that accessibility features like large, contrasting fonts and color contrast will become more prevalent on your website or your packaging. This is important because more inclusive websites attract nearly two times as many visitors as non-inclusive sites do.
Another way you can make a difference is by donating to an organization that supports disability rights. There are many organizations out there doing amazing work on behalf of individuals living with disabilities so it's important to give back!

How can we advocate for disability rights?

In 1978, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is a legally binding international human rights instrument that promotes and protects the rights and dignity of people living with disabilities across the world.
To promote these rights, countries around the world should take the necessary steps to implement laws, policies, and other measures that respect, protect, and fulfill all human rights for people living with disabilities.
It's an important day for everyone to acknowledge that disability is a natural part of our societal makeup. We must be advocates for disability rights to improve lives for all people living with disabilities around the world!

Conclusion

This day is a significant opportunity to raise awareness about disability rights and the struggles faced by people living with disabilities.
Take time today to think about the International Day of People with Disabilities, and consider how you can best show your support.