Dec 3 2024 Is International Day of Disabled Persons

Over 2.2% of the Indian population faces some kind of disability and if you talk to them about how their lives have been- it will mostly read like a sad novel, with instances of pure horror to downright apathy. They still try to put their best selves forward and get on with life, but it is high time we, the normally abled understand how hard their lives can be and how we seem to take everything for granted. To highlight this very contrast and show that the differently abled are just that- they have different abilities from us, this campaign was begun on an international scale. It is known as the International Day for Disabled Persons (IDPD).

Why Celebrate International Day of Disabled Persons?

The United Nations first proclaimed that it would celebrate IDPD on Dec 3, every year from 1992, with a  special resolution that began it all. UNESCO is one of the main arms of the UN that helps in multiple ways- by addressing how the disabled are excluded from general society, by asking media to portray disabilities in a realistic manner and not spread wrong information and to finally help come up with strategies that can help promote inclusivity for all. The UN also decided to be more inclusive itself in 2019 – that they should give equal opportunities to the disabled, from the headquarters to the grassroots level workers.

The Theme for 2024-

This year, the theme is ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities so there is an inclusive and sustainable future’. People with disabilities have actively tried to assert their own rights, while also forming groups and fighting for all round inclusivity. The IDPD this year is taking place along with 2 other super crucial world summits- Summit of the Future and Second World Summit for Social Development, respectively. Both of them aim to include disabled persons in positions of leadership. The main commemorative event took place in New York, on 3 December this year, with an immersive opening segment, followed by an online panel discussion.

What has India Done to Help its 2%?

India came up with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2016, where the government recognises over 21 different kinds of disabilities. We are also trying to help people understand how inclusivity needs to be considered when planning educational facilities, workspaces, public transport, roads and toilets and other related infrastructure. The disabled are called ‘Divyangjan’ in India, and more males have disabilities, when compared to women.  The Act wants to ensure equality, protection, non-discrimination of the disabled masses, while also encouraging research on possible treatment modalities with express informed consent from individuals. Affected individuals are issued a certificate of disability for five years at first. It is then changed to a permanent document if there is no change in the degree of disability.

India requires that an affected individual be at least 40% disabled and an Indian citizen to qualify for the Certificate of Disability. Disabilities have been categorised in 4 main groups- behavioural, sensory, physical and developmental ones respectively.

Conclusion

Disabled individuals face many kinds of stigma or barriers- like general public attitudes, apathy, physical barriers, communication barriers and financial barriers mainly because they are not able to find stable employment. Communication issues need to be addressed soon by teaching the general public about braille, sign language and other such languages- we need to remember that language was meant to be a way to communicate more effectively and it must not be used to ostracise a particular group of people or to stigmatise them in any manner. Let us all work to get our public transport and workspaces to be more inclusive spaces. Children should get proper education and their disability should not be a barrier in this endeavour. Here’s to a more genuinely inclusive society in the future- Cheers!