The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.

International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD) stands by its conviction that a person is not inherently ‘disabled’…disability is NOT a feature of a person.  We say that people have health impairments: some of us need wheelchairs to mobilise; some of us need seeing-eye dogs; some of us need assistive technology – just like some of us need glasses to read; or medication to manage pain; or an inhaler to manage asthma.

All people have different health impairments at some time in their lives.  The difference is that most of the time your health impairment doesn’t stop you from functioning, being included or participating in your community.

We will never eradicate health impairments…but by overcoming barriers, then we eradicate disablement.