Dec. 3 is United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities
What is the largest minority in the world? The answer might surprise you. Having a disability puts you in the world's largest minority group. Currently around 10 per cent of the world's population, or roughly 650 million people, live with a disability, and that number will increase as the population ages.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is held each year on Dec. 3 to focus on issues that affect people with disabilities worldwide. The global observance has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992. Its aim is to:
- encourage a better understanding of people living with disabilities,
- make people more aware of the rights of disabled people, and
- raise awareness about the benefits of integrating people living with disabilities into every aspect of life, from economic, to political, to social and cultural
Each year, the day is celebrated with a focus on a new way to improve the lives of people living with a disability. The theme for this year’s IDPD is “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”.
Events are held around the world to mark IDPD. Communities are encouraged to organize meeting, talks, discussions, forums, performance and campaigns relating to disability in their local areas.
In Burlington, we are promoting our Respect the Space campaign this year. The campaign was developed to educated people that it’s never okay to park in an accessible parking space without a legal accessible parking permit.