Let’s celebrate United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on, December 3, 2021. This day was created to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. Accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities are fundamental rights recognized by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and are not only objectives, but also pre-requisites for the enjoyment of other rights. The Convention (Article 9, accessibility) seeks to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life and development.
Did you know that over 1 billion people in the world have some form of disability; that is 1 in 7? Approximately 80 percent of all persons with disabilities live in a developing country. Seven targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) explicitly refer to persons with disabilities. Realizing the rights, agency, and leadership of persons with disabilities will only advance our common future.
If you are passionate about working with persons with disabilities the following career pathways may interest you: career advisor/counsellor, disability support worker, rehabilitation specialist, speech pathologist, healthcare aide, special education teacher and occupational therapist.
On December 3rd, let us recognize and value the diversity of our global community, and cherish the role we all play, regardless of our abilities. It is a day for optimism – to look towards the future and the creation of a world where a person is not characterised by their disabilities, but by their abilities. As we work towards economic recovery, may we challenge each other to provide opportunities for supported education/ training, work experience/ volunteerism and employment for persons with disabilities.