2RPH celebrates International Day of People with Disability

Sun, 2 December 2018

International Day of People with Disability highlights issues that affect people with disability around the world since 1981. This year’s theme is empowerment, inclusion and equality.

As a way to recognise and honour this day, 2RPH's Community Engagement Officer Catherine Maitland organised an interview with Fiona McKenzie, who has been a Board Member of the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability for 10 years. 

Fiona talks with 2RPH presenter Jo Van Kool about the importance of friendships, speaking up and being part of a change movement that is led by people with intellectual disability.

About the day:

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on 3 December each year.

IDPwD is a United Nations sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

The Australian Government has been supporting IDPwD since 1996 and provides funds to promote and raise awareness of the day around Australia.

Information on how individuals and organisations can get involved in the day and how to break down barriers (both structural and attitudinal) for people with disability can be found on this website.

Each year the UN announces a theme to observe for International Day of People with Disability. The annual theme provides an overarching focus on how society can strive for inclusivity through the removal of physical, technological and attitudinal barriers for people with disability. This has been occurring since 1992 when the General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons.

The theme for International Day of People with Disability for 2018 is ‘Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’. According to the United Nations, 2018’s theme focuses on empowering people with disabilities for an inclusive, equitable and sustainable development as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In Australia, the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 commits all governments to a nationwide approach aimed at improving the lives of people with disability, their families and carers. The Strategy’s ten-year national framework for reform focuses on better inclusion for people with disability and seeks to create a society that enables people with disability to fulfil their potential as equal citizens.

Today, countries all around the world celebrate the day.

If you missed hearing the interview during Breakfast on 3 December, listen to it here.