In its quest to support people with disabilities, the UN, in 1992, identified December 3rd to be the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
The IDPD essentially aims at raising people's awareness of disability-associated issues, and shedding more on the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities.
Besides, this day is an attempt to involve people with disabilities in all aspects of life (social, political, economic, cultural … etc.), thus revitalizing their participation by providing them with the necessary education and training.
Statistics indicate that there are some 1.5 million people with disabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Facts on Disability:
- About 15% of the world's population, according to the WHO, live with some form of disability. This corresponds to over a billion people.
- Lower-income countries have a higher prevalence of disability than higher-income countries.
- People with disabilities often do not receive needed health care in many developing countries.
- Children with disabilities are less likely to get good education than non-disabled children, especially in developing countries.
- People with disabilities in many developing countries, according to global data, are more likely to be unemployed; what makes them more prone to poverty.
Internationally Approved Date: 3/12/2013
Locally Approved Date: 30/1/1435H
Theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2013:
“Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society for all”
Logo:
- Persons with disabilities and their families.
- Health workers.
- Health institutions and organizations.
- Health decision makers.
- The public.
Objectives and General Messages of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2013:
- Raising the disabled persons', as well as the public, awareness of the meaning of "disabilities".
- Determining the important criteria and guidelines for developing health care provided for persons with disabilities.
- Providing access to medical information for the person with disability and his family.
- Providing full support for the person with disability and protecting his dignity and rights.
- Supporting research and collecting disabilities-associated data, locally and internationally.
- Involving persons with disabilities in the implementation of the policies and programs provided for them.
- Supporting people with disabilities in all fields, especially education, training and employment.
- Facilitating e-accessibility: the use of such ICT methods as the internet by persons with disabilities.