International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a United Nations day that is celebrated every year on December 3rd. First launched in 1992, the event is in its 29th year of celebration, marking nearly three decades of meaningful change for the disabled community. The day is about promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development, and to raise awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
The theme for 2021 International Day of Persons with Disabilities is Leadership and Participation of Persons with Disabilities Toward an Inclusive, Accessible, and Sustainable post-COVID-19 World. The theme highlights the additional challenges faced by persons with disability during the COVID-19 pandemic and the aim, once the virus is under control, of ensuring that the future is inclusive, accessible, and sustainable for all.
Key messages:
- Disability is part of the human experience.
- Recognize that a world where all people attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being is only possible if health systems are inclusive of people with disability.
- People with disability have been amongst the most vulnerable populations during the current COVID-19 outbreak due to many health, social and environmental barriers, discriminatory attitudes and inaccessible infrastructure.
- The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to improve our health systems so that they are more inclusive and responsive to the needs and human rights of people experiencing disability in all their diversity.
Click here to see the five things you need to know about living with a disability during COVID-19.
At OCH, it is our mission to provide exceptional healthcare and preventive services to patients in an atmosphere of compassion, respect, and dignity, with a commitment to care for the underserved and to improve access to care. According to United Nations, “an estimated 46% of older people aged 60 years and over are people with disabilities.” We know the importance of ensuring these patients receive the care that they need. Our collaborative efforts with long-term care facilities ensures high continuity of care for each patient.
We encourage you to join OCH in supporting IDPD on social media by using the hashtags #IDPD and #EveryoneIncluded. To learn more about IDPD, click here.
United Nations, (ND). International Day of Persons with Disabilities – 3 December. Retrieved November 24, 2021 from https://www.un.org/en/observances/day–of-persons-with-disabilities.