International Day of People With Disability: A Global Movement to Impact Diversity and Inclusion
International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD) is a United Nations-sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally on 3 December. So why is it so important? Well, did you know that there are 386 million disabled people of working age and 15% of the worldwide population who experience a disability? There is no wonder then that disability is an important cause that needs to be highlighted.
As an ambitious disabled woman myself and an advocate of diversity and inclusion in the workplace it is no surprise to me that I am shocked about not having known about this extremely important day. So, why has it not become a widely spread movement?
According to the their website, the ‘United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy’ was only launched in June 2019, and we all should appreciate that Rome wasn’t built in a day so in essence an important movement like this - which has never been at the top of global political agenda over the decades - will take time to spread. Disability is not the first thought on everybody’s mind, it is not the first thing on the tip of everyone’s tongue. So, I would be forgiven for my oversight, even as a disabled woman, trying to navigate this world of vast information, not to come across this until it was far too late. And the reason is that unlike Covid-19 and #BLM, this movement has not received much media traction, and hasn’t made much ‘noise’.
In actual fact, the first ever comprehensive report on Disability Inclusion Strategy which sets out the foundation for establishing recommendations for implementation towards achieving the UN Sustainable Goals, was only released recently in October 2020.
Therefore, this is a fresh new movement, it is still establishing its roots before the impact can be felt on a global scale. Don’t forget that, when considering ‘Black Lives Matter’ as a case study towards establishing global traction for an important cause, it took decades - nay, centuries! - of slavery, torture, and death for voices to be heard. George Floyd was not the first black man to be killed by a white police-man, but we hope that the prominence of the media surrounding the #BLM movement, this time, will make a sustainable change for the future for people of colour. Permanently.
But, what needs to happen for our voices to be heard?
PurpleSpace is a social organisation supporting or establishing disability employee networks and resource groups for organisations across the globe, and was created by CEO Kate Nash. Their mission as they state is:
"To make it easier for employees to navigate the experience of ill health, disability or the experience of an accident or injury, at the same time as flourishing at work."
As part of IDPWD 2020, #PurpleLightUp was established in order to draw attention to the economic contributions that 386 million disabled people of working age make and could potentially add to the globe. This year it took the form of a 24-hour Global Broadcast which included webinars, panel discussions and interviews of disabled employees to showcase the commitment of members to inclusion and diversity in the working environments for disabled people.
My only wish is that this movement grows exponentially to the point that rather than hearing people say ‘all I can hear on the news everyday is Covid-19!’, I can annoy them enough to hear them say ‘all I can here on the news is… disability awareness!’. This is an extremely valid cause and a movement that needs to grow legs, a voice that needs to be amplified. I have to say I feel more than slightly miffed that the media coverage has been mediocre towards non-existent on the matter, that it hasn’t created a band-wagon for the global population to jump on in order to make this a ‘thing’, much like the #BLM movement, to get people to take to the streets, to take to the TV channels, to make businesses change their strategy from the core.
Where is global solidarity for people with disabilities?
It’s about time something is done to make the change. Because, speaking from experience, disability discrimination is ingrained into the threads of society as much as racism, sexism and ageism. You only need to read about ‘The Social Model of Disability’ developed by the disability equality charity, Scope, to understand just how much ‘society’ is the core of the problems and barriers against disabled individuals. According to the model:
‘Negative attitudes based on prejudice or stereotypes can stop disabled people from having equal opportunities. This is sometimes referred to as disablism.’
As a final note, I would like to set out a short monologue in the hope that this article will jolt a compassionate streak into my readers, and thrust you into a proactive drive towards a dramatic change. And those who also struggle with society’s attitudes towards disability consider these words of wisdom:
I am tired. Sick and tired. I am exacerbated by so-called mentors, and career specialists who have not lived in my shoes, have not spent 15 years in an endless downward spiral of career struggles and workplace prejudices, have not been born with an illness, and raised to be an ambitious disabled woman only to be shot down by society. I am exhausted by their incompetent advice where, in their efforts to bring ‘calm and peace’ into my life, they actually end up achieving the opposite by victimising the victim. I am the victim of many years of social discrimination. Yet, I warrior on, with a positive mind, a smile on my face, a bubbly predisposition and an open mind. But, for how long do I have to continue being this ‘bright and lovely’ person, taking bash after bash before my light is dimmed, my passion is destroyed, my will to keep going is dismantled? I recently told a mentor ‘I give up, I am quite content to live my life in solitude, to become a writer and use my voice to speak out about my passion and disconnect from the outside world that has caused me so much grief’. She had the audacity to tell me ‘this is not a healthy way to live. I would like to give you an exercise to think deeply about what you could do differently to bring you peace when the world is against you?’.
Do you know what would bring me peace? If the world stopped being so egotistical enough to presume that I am the problem, and to finally come to the stark realisation that it [society!] needs to change. What would give me peace is to be part of the solution, the movement, the voice - to tell my truth as it is, without embellishing the harsh reality of it, to take to the streets, to make a difference in this world. And another thing, since when is ‘removing toxicity from our lives’ an unhealthy move to make - so it’s not ‘one person or two’ and it the whole of society - does it make a difference? And since when are solitary people, writers, artists, dreamers seen as ‘unhealthy’ choices to be? After years of seeking advice, I have decided to speak my own voice, to amplify it proudly and this is what I have to say: Stick it [your advice]!’
If you want to make a difference please show your support in solidarity, search out organisations like which you can find in this comprehensive Wikipedia list. Get in contact with them and take part in events, don’t be afraid to speak out at work when something doesn’t sit right with you. And connect in groups and forums. Be the change the world needs!
Make plans, prepare your next event as part of the movement, and write it in your diaries: 3rd December 2021 - International Day of People With Disability.
Written by Maria Nicolette
Maria is Writer/Contributor for the Everyday Magazine, and is finding her ‘place’ in the world as an Ambitious Disabled Woman.
She is passionate about, is an advocate of, and writes on the topics of: Female Empowerment, Disability Awareness, Diversity and Inclusion, Flexible Working, and Work-Life Balance.
She is of Cypriot origin and is proud of her Greek Cypriot heritage, she is married to a Greek husband and grew up in a matriarchal Greek Cypriot family with a very glamorous mum and a highly academic father. She gets her looks and passion for life from her mum and her brains for academia from her dad.
Raised in the City of London, she achieved an MSc Management degree from the prestigious Cass Business school, hence she is an Ambassador for Leadership, and has an entrepreneurial passion.
Her hobbies are writing, gardening, luxury fashion and shopping cooking Mediterranean food, clubbing in goth joints, singing gothic cover songs, attending events and networking, cosplaying, MMO gaming, doing feature film extras work, reading graphic novels, and exploring arts and culture.
She is a passionate writer, an adoring daughter, a caring wife, a supportive friend, a fun-loving woman, a multi-talented individual, and an undying feminist and disability activist.
She loves the colour ‘fuchsia’ and her dream would be to be on TV!