Why is December 3rd Important?

December is a month of many celebrations: December 1st - Giving Tuesday, December 7th - Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 15th - Bill of Rights Day, December 21st - Winter Solstice, and of course, December 25th - Christmas! (Just to name a few!) There are many different events that will take place this December, but one that often gets forgotten occurs on December 3rd this year.

December 3rd - International Day of Persons with Disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities serves to empower, acknowledge, and promote awareness for individuals with disabilities both in your community and across the globe. It originated in 1945 when the United Nations gathered to outline its commitment to creating more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable communities that would enable rather than alienate individuals with disabilities. IDPWD celebrates global diversity but also hopes to educate those without disabilities by uplifting the voices of the disabled community so that we may all learn from their experiences.

It's estimated that approximately 15% of the world's population lives with a disability -- that's over 1 billion people! Individuals with a disability don't enjoy equal access to important societal norms such as transportation, employment, education, and even social or political participation. The disabled community has a right to equality, and their participation is essential to balanced democracies and dynamic citizenship. Without the inclusion of individuals with disabilities, we stand to silence a truly massive (and growing) group of people.

This is why December 3rd and the celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities is so vital. 2020, in particular, is an important year to show your support as IDPWD's theme is "not all disabilities are visible" -- a reminder that disability is far from skin-deep, just as advocacy should be. We hope you join HRC and billions of others in celebrating this monumental holiday on December 3rd.

Learn more about IDPWD here.