International Day of Persons with Disabilities

 #idpd #IDPD #CRPD #CRPD10 #InclusiveCities  #GlobalGoals

This special day was started in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The intention was to promote an understanding of disability issues and develop support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be had from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. At Future Directions the integration of all the people we support into society is at the forefront of our core values. 

The theme for IDPD 2017 is: “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”

This is all about changing others attitudes to those who have a disability. Ensuring that all understand what the disability is but also making sure that the disability doesn’t become a reason for not doing or being able to find another way. Just because we are not all doing something in the same way doesn’t mean one way is better than another or isn’t of the same value.

Disability can effect people in many different ways. For some, it may be a physically disability which means the person might need to use a wheelchair to get around. For others it could be intellectual disability that could make learning new things harder and/or retaining information a struggle. Some disabilities can be seen like noticing someone has guide dog , for others it is less noticeable finding it hard to read and write. We live in a society which often focuses on disability in negative light. It focuses not on the person but on what they are perceived to not be able to do. It sees a person’s limitations, not their strengths. At Future Directions we believe on focusing on the person, their individual qualities and not their disabilities. We want to work with others to find ways of reaching their own unique potential in life. This is why we celebrate ‘I can’, not ‘I cannot’!