3rd December is International Day of People with Disability Day (IDPwD). It’s a United Nations observed day and is primarily aimed at increasing public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

Most importantly, it’s a day for everyone to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of people with disability and celebrate them!

Nearly 1 in 4 Australians are living with some form of disability. Here in Australia, we really started to see some changes when in the 1970’s when the government act was brought in that people with disability should not be held in institutions and have the right to be in their communities. The government furthered disability rights when in 1992 they brought in legislation against discrimination of disabled people.

Global Disability Rights

For over 30 years now, International Day of People with Disability Day has been bringing to light injustices, discrimination and barriers that disabled people face still to this day.

People with disabilities were without a doubt impacted greatly during COVID-19. The global pandemic shone a necessary light on the impact of access to medical care and medication, access to workplaces and the devastating effects of social isolation.

We have all seen now that society can change – workplaces can adapt to work from home, your doctor can be available for telehealth and you can get prescriptions and other necessary supplies without leaving the home. We just hope these changes remain so more people living with disability can remain employed, and manage their daily life in a way that mitigates stress and risk of infection/illness.

What can you do?

International Day of People with Disability Day is a great reminder for everyone to continue to not only promote inclusion but to live by it. If you are a business owner, what are you doing about accessibility to your workplace? If you run a café or restaurant what are you doing to make sure there is disability access?

We cannot continue the conversations about inclusivity without modelling inclusivity!