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Raising Awareness

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Today we raise awareness on issues that people with disabilities deal with on a daily basis.

Tatyana Bayramova

Reading time: around 2 min

Today, December 3rd, is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the annual observance of this day in October 1992 (resolution 47/3).

Each year, this day is observed with a focus on a specific theme. The 2024 theme is Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.

Disability impacts more people than you might think

It is estimated that 1 in 4 adults in the European Union have at least one disability (Eurostat). In the United States, the number is even higher — 28.7% of the adult population are people with disabilities (CDC). Overall, 1.3 billion people around the globe would benefit from accessible solutions (WHO).

With aging population we can only expect a rise in numbers in the future (Eurostat).

Contributing towards the accessible future

There are many ways to improve quality of live for people with disabilities. For example, cities could invest more in accessible infrastructure, such as wheelchair ramps, elevators, or tactile pavings.

Another way is to promote use of assistive technologies, like screen readers, screen magnifiers, or braille displays.

💡 Did you know?

Everyday things like eyeglasses or walking sticks are also considered assistive technology.

As more and more services go online, it’s more important than ever for software to have an accessible user interface. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) help developers to create web pages and web applications that are easy to use, navigate, and understand.

Enhanced accessibility is not only beneficial for people with disabilities. For example, ramps designed for wheelchair users are also helpful for people with strollers; a website with keyboard navigation support is easy to use for people with a temporary impairment as well (e.g., a broken arm).

Accessibility is a necessity, not a premium

We all can make a contribution towards a more accessible world. By promoting and implementing inclusive ideas, we make sure that each and every member of society is able to live their life to the fullest. We need to remember: accessibility is not a premium feature, but a necessity for a functioning society.

To understand the extent of the need for an inclusive world, I invite you to watch the video below, which shows a world where the roles are reversed.

Transcript

Imagine a town full of physically impaired people, all wheelchair users. They run everything. There aren't any able-bodied people, so, naturally, when they built the town, the community decided it was pointless to have ceilings 10-foot high and doors 7-foot high, so the ceilings were built at 7 foot the doors at 5 foot. In every way, they designed the place the way they wanted it.

One day, a few able-bodied people come to stay. One of the first things they notice is the height of the doors. And the reason they notice is because they keep hitting their heads. They come to stand out by the bruises they carry on their foreheads. Soon, doctors, psychiatrists, and social workers all become involved. Committees are formed. Many people are worried about what becomes known as “the problem of the able-bodied.” Throughout the town there is a growth of real concern.

Specially toughened helmets are handed out free to the able-bodied, to be worn at all times. Braces are designed, which give support and relief while keeping the able-bodied wearer bent to normal height. Various groups of compassionate wheelchair users get together and form registered charities. Every quarter, they have a collection day. Upturned helmets are left in pubs and shops for people to drop their small change into. There is talk of founding special homes. But then, one day, it dawns on the able-bodied that there is nothing actually wrong with them, just that society excludes them.