To mark the International Day for Disabled Persons, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin joined the International Labour Organization to call for decent work for disabled persons. “Let’s make decent work a reality for all,” she signs.

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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.

Source: Enable. UN

The MDGs established a unifying set of developmental objectives for the global community.  Bringing together United Nations agencies, governments and civil society around eight key development issues, the MDGs foster collaborative action to reduce poverty, improve health and address educational and environmental concerns around the world’s most pressing development problems.  The MDGs are specifically designed to address the needs of the world’s poorest citizens and the world’s most marginalized populations.

The eight Millennium Development Goals

MDGs will not be achieved however if their policies, programs, monitoring and evaluation do not include persons with disabilities.  While persons with disabilities make up ten per cent of the world’s population, disability is associated with twenty per cent of global poverty according to the World Bank’s findings.  Currently, there are no references to persons with disabilities either in the MDGs themselves or in the accompanying body of guidelines and policies, programs and conferences that are part of the on-going MDG efforts.  In addition, the new revisions of the MDGs currently in process do not include persons with disabilities.

The international community needs urgently to act to mainstream disability in the MDG processes.  This requires policy makers and technical experts specifically tasked with the programming, monitoring and evaluation of current MDG programs to begin to consider disability so that the next phase of the implementation of the MDGs will include disability as an important component of its core mission.

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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.

This issue provides updates on the following:

1. Social Inclusion Leaders and Advocates Meet with Thérèse Rein.
2. Thérèse Rein – Passionate Advocate for People with Disabilities
3. International Day of People with Disability
4. Regional Disability Strategy and Meeting Communiqué.
5. Revised Draft GA Resolution Realizing the Millennium Development Goals for persons with disabilities.
6. NBF Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Letters this Christmas.
7. Christmas Gifts that Demonstrate the True Meaning of Christmas.
8. Belgian Man Rescued from a 23 year ‘Coma’.
9. Social Inclusion Week Spotlights the Needs to Think Inclusively
10. Home Furnishings Giant IKEA Raises Money for UNICEF
11. Disability and Displacement
12. Innovation in Accessible Transport for All
13. New Resources

Download ADDC November Newsletter.