International day of persons with disabilities

Every 3rd December, the world pauses to honour millions of persons living with disabilities whose lives remain marked by resilience, silent battles, and extraordinary contributions.

The annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has grown into a global call to action, reminding governments, institutions, and communities that inclusion is not a favour but a fundamental right.

The observance of IDPD was first proclaimed in 1992 under the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. Celebrated worldwide, the day mobilises support for critical issues around disability inclusion, raises awareness on the lived experiences of persons with disabilities, and underscores the social and economic benefits of building fully inclusive societies.

This year’s theme, “Fostering Disability Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress”  is more than a slogan. It is a mirror held up to our communities, asking us whether we have done enough.

Why This Day Matters

 A Spotlight on Persistent Stigma

Despite progress, persons with disabilities still face daily stigma; whispered pity, lowered expectations, inaccessible opportunities, and discriminatory systems that reduce their potential to a diagnosis instead of a human identity.

Many live in environments where access is treated as an optional luxury rather than a necessity. Whether in education, employment, healthcare, or social life, the barriers remain painfully real.

Commemorating this day forces society to confront these injustices. It pushes us to ask the uncomfortable questions: Why are so many public spaces still inaccessible? Why do employers still overlook qualified candidates with disabilities? Why do harmful stereotypes persist in our homes and schools?

Recognition becomes the first step to responsibility.

 Honouring the Remarkable Achievements of Persons with Disabilities

Across the world, persons with disabilities are rewriting what possibility looks like leading companies, inspiring innovation, excelling in sports, advocating for human rights, shaping policy, and transforming their communities.

From Paralympians who break global records to writers who shift cultural narratives, to tech innovators designing solutions that the rest of the world later adopts… their impact is immense. Yet their stories rarely receive the spotlight they deserve.

Celebrating this day is a way of saying: We see you, we value you, and your work shapes our world.

Promoting Inclusive Development and Policies

Inclusion is not charity. It is smart governance. When society designs systems that accommodate everyone, everyone benefits including parents with strollers, the elderly, accident survivors, and people with temporary injuries.

IDPD serves as a reminder that inclusive infrastructure, education, and workplaces are not “special provisions” but are part of responsible planning for an equitable future.

A Call for Collective Responsibility

Inclusion is not the work of governments alone. Every household, employer, school, healthcare provider, and digital platform has a role to play. The day encourages collaboration across sectors to elevate disability rights from mere policy statements to actual lived experience.

Moving Forward: What True Inclusion Looks Like

True inclusion means designing environments where persons with disabilities don’t have to ask for permission to belong. It means:

• accessible public and digital spaces
• equal employment opportunities
• affordable assistive technologies
• representation in leadership and decision-making
• community support that respects independence and dignity
• storytelling that humanises, not sensationalises

Inclusion is not about making room; it’s about recognising that the room was always theirs too.

Turning Awareness Into Action

Awareness without action is just noise. The call is simple but urgent:

• Advocate: challenge stereotypes, speak up against stigma, and push for policy change.
• Create Access: whether you’re designing content, buildings, events, or systems, make inclusion a default setting.
• Collaborate: support organisations led by persons with disabilities and amplify their work.
• Employ Fairly: open doors, review recruitment policies, and make workplaces welcoming and accessible.
• Listen: ask persons with disabilities what they need, not what you assume they need.

Inclusion begins with one choice, one conversation, one shift in mindset repeated consistently.