December 3, 2021: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
What is IDPD
A purple to pink gradient features a wheelchair user turning around in their chair and smiling. White text reads: December 3, 2021: International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year' we’re looking at leadership and participation of persons wit disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. #IDPD
In 1992, the United Nations proclaimed December 3rd to be the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) with the goal to promote an understanding of disability issues and foster support for the well-being, dignity, and rights of persons with disabilities.
This year’s theme is Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.
According to the WHO World Report on Disability, 15 per cent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability. Of this number, it’s estimated 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition— and two-thirds of these people will not seek professional medical help, largely due to stigma, discrimination and neglect.
(Source: WHO)
How to Celebrate
Increase your awareness of disability issues by attending local, national and international events, listed below, or by completing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Bingo card.
Check out our blog post on books to read by authors with lived experience.
Read Explore Possible, a thought leadership initiative featuring stories from people with lived experiences of disability.
Follow the #IDPD hashtag on social, and follow along with us on social too!
IDPD 2021 Events
These events are from organizations all over the world who are acknowledging, celebrating and discussing disability issues and culture this IDPD.
Webinar: Removing Barriers for People Who Use Service Animals
A free webinar hosted by the Manitoba Accessibility Office (MAO)
Date: Friday, December 3, 2021
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. CST
Webinar: Reducing Inequalities Through Technologies: A Perspective on Disability Inclusive Development
Date: Friday, December 3, 2021
Time: 7:00 am
Co-organized by United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The event aims at increasing awareness of the importance of supporting innovation ecosystems to spur the development of new and improved assistive technologies; promote understanding of the workings of the assistive technologies industry; and share insights on the landscape and global trends in this cluster of technologies as a complement to universal design.
Webinar: IDPD Edmonton: The Road to the Podium: Moving from Recreational to Competitive Sport
Date: December 3, 2021
Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Zoom
In honour of the recent Summer Paralympic games and the upcoming Winter Paralympic games, IDPD Edmonton has invited incredible athletes who have both gone to the Paralympic games or are on their way there! We also have two special guests: Chanel Keenan, the intersectionality consultant for the Seattle Kraken and a special musical performance by Tony Flores!
ASL Interpretation and Cart Captioning will be provided, please indicate at registration if you require any other accommodation to improve your enjoyment of this event.
Instagram Live: The Lack of Disabled Representation in Publishing
Date: December 3, 2021
Time: 11:30 EST (10:30 CST)
Join Mary Fashik, the founder of Upgrade Accessibility and Rebekah Borucki, president of Row House Publishing for an Instagram live on International Day of Persons with Disabilities. They will be discussing the lack of disabled representation in publishing.
They will also talk about Row House Publishing’s shifts they have made in terms of their outward facing efforts — social media, etc. and how that will inevitably lead to a better, more sustainable business.
Summit for Democracy: Disability-inclusive Democracy
Date: December 3, 2021
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM CST
On December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this official Summit for Democracy 2-hour side event (9:00-11:00am ET) will bring together government leaders, academia, and civil society activists working to advance the rights of persons with disabilities in the field of disability-inclusive democracy. The session will begin and end with remarks by Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, Sara Minkara, and include three break-out sessions as follows: (1) exercising the right to vote, (2) political leadership, and (3) inclusive civic engagement. Readouts from the break-out sessions will inform the content of the closing plenary and lead to concrete next steps for participants and audience alike.
In the spirit of “nothing about us without us” the break-out sessions will feature subject matter experts’ brief remarks followed by facilitated discussion on key themes with stakeholders. The intent is to crowd source the most important issues stakeholders identify in the areas of exercising the right to vote, political leadership, and inclusive civic engagement. The crowd sourced issues will inform a menu of actions stakeholders can take to improve access and inclusion in political and public life for persons with disabilities. Highlights of the issues and potential actions identified will be presented during the closing plenary. Stakeholders will be invited to contribute to the Year of Action and consider actions they can take in pursuit of accessible and inclusive elections across the globe.
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