____________________________________________________________

What International Day of People with Disabilities means to me

IDPwD is a day to take time out to reflect on how people with disabilities have been included in my life: how we have impacted on each other. I hope all parties can say positively.

Christine Walton

Part of me is filled with satisfaction on how far the general community has come in understanding issues related to disability and part of me is still challenged by how far we still need to go. I look forward to the time when IDPwD is a total celebration of us just being a totally inclusive community.

- Christine Walton, ADDC

What does this day mean to you?

Have your say. Read below what  IDPwD means to other people.

See what IDPwD personally means to people >

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations sanctioned day that aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.

IDPwD also seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of the integration of people with disability in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

IDPwD brings together people with disability, community organisations, businesses, individuals and all levels of government. It unites people around the world in celebrating and acknowledging the contributions, skills and achievements of people with disability.

In 1992, at the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992), the General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons. Based on feedback from the disability sector, the Australian Government has adopted the name International Day of People with Disability.

The UN announced a theme for the Day that is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights, and participation in society by people with disability. The 2009 theme is;

Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world.

It is important that all individuals and organizations working in disability and development make the most of this opportunity to advocate for inclusive practices in development as well as celebrate achievements to date.

See what IDPwD personally means to people >

What’s going on

ABC1 is screening the premier of the rock documentary titled “Rudely Interrupted” Thursday December 3rd 9:30pm. The fly on the wall ‘rocumentary’ follows the band from pubs and clubs around Melbourne to the United Nations and beyond.

Rehabilitation International (RI) & the RI Foundation are celebrating with a fundraiser showing of the RI video at the RI office in New York. For further information Email Rachael@riglobal.org

In Timor Leste participants in a celebration will be people with disabilities, government officials, Xanana G, NGOs, religious and local leaders, family members. There will be a march through Dili and then speeches at the Stadium Municipio Dili.

United Nations Enable are celebrating with a day long event at the UN Headquarters. Guest Speakers include Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Ambassador H.E. Ms. Susan E. Rice,Mr. Sha Zukang, Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Mr. Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under Secretary-General of Public Information (DPI) and Ms. Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR).

Registration for the event open to all NGOs in Consultative Status with ECOSOC and those accredited to the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities online at: http://www.un.org/ecosoc/csonet

ParaQuad’s annual Wheels for a Day race was held on Monday, 9^th November in Sydney’s Martin Place. For more information visit www.paraquad.org.au/LatestNews/WheelsforaDay

Burke and Beyond, Onemda, Interact and Scope are supporting the celebration of the International Day of the Disabled Person by organising their fifth concert since 2005. This year, the Concert will be held at Macleay Park on Belmore Road in Balwyn North, Melbourne on Thursday the 3rd of December.

20% of the world’s poorest have a disability

Chak from Cambodia. His story is featured in the ADDC Photographic Exhibition

ACT Senator Gary Humphries will launch the ADDC and the exhibition. Other key speakers at the launch will include The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Director of a leading Bangladesh disability NGO.

ADDC Coordinator, Paul Deany states, “Persons with disabilities are among the poorest of the poor. Their numbers are increasing due to conflict, malnutrition, natural disasters, disease and, above all, poverty.

Much more needs to be done to ensure disability is integrated into development policies and programs.

The Australian Disability and Development Consortium therefore aims to bring together the disability and development sectors in our region to focus attention and resources on disability in the developing world.”

Download ADDC Launch Press Release