On December 3, 2021, we celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and the 40th anniversary of its inception. We look back at the history behind IDPD, the barriers that have been removed since 1981, and how we can continue to build on the progress that has been made.
History
Forty years ago the United Nations proclaimed 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons and called for action to remove barriers, equalize opportunities, and promote rehabilitation and prevention of disabilities. On February 6, 1981, President Ronald Reagan stood in unison with the United Nations, proclaiming:
America has long been a world leader in this area, and the United States Council for the International Year of Disabled Persons and our Federal government have already responded to the United Nations challenge. Programs are underway throughout the Nation.
Internationally, the first International Year of Disabled Persons was a resounding success. In the following year (1982), the UN General Assembly created the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons and later proclaimed 1983 - 1993 the Decade of Disabled Persons.
In 1982 the Job Training Partnership Act established federal assistance to prepare youth and unskilled adults, who have disabilities, to enter into the labor force. The law provided additional assistance and guidance to employment programs like Job Corps and Veterans' employment programs for persons with disabilities.
Later that year the Telecommunications for the Disabled Act was passed which required public phones to be accessible to the hearing impaired. The law was signed by the president on January 3, 1983.
In 1985 the Mental Illness Bill of Rights Act required states to provide protection and advocacy for people with psychological disabilities.
In 1986 the Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act (document) enhanced work incentives for people with disabilities under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
However, despite significant legislative gains, the United States struggled in coming to terms with the imbalance of equality.
In 1990, the community took a stand. On March 13th over 1,000 people marched on the U.S. Capital to demand passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In what is now known as the Capital Crawl, 60 activists with disabilities climbed out of their wheelchairs and up the 83 steps of the Capitol in protest of inequality. Later that year, President George W. Bush signed the ADA.
Read more: A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement in America.
In 1992, the United Nations closed the Decade of Disabled Persons by proclaiming December 3 as International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Although the original proclamation by the World Programme of Action fell short of some of its objectives, calling for a "society for all" by 2010, we celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities by observing incredible progress since it began.
Celebrating IDPD and turning aspirations into policy
One of the lessons learned from the COVID pandemic is that the status quo is (more or less) just an idea, a collective set of expectations we've all agreed to − but given the right catalyst, anything and everything can change.
Yes, the pandemic had the kind of momentum and power that no one person can have, but the fact remains − nothing has to stay the same.
I've had the good fortune of working as an advocate my entire professional career, in Florida, Colorado, California, and now as a member of the Accessibility.com team, virtually everywhere. What I've learned from those experiences is that to truly overcome barriers to accessibility you have to understand more than accessibility − to be effective, you need to understand people.
But that's true on both sides of the table. Policy-makers cannot effectively develop laws if they do not understand the needs of their community, and advocates cannot influence policy-makers if they do not have the ability to effectively communicate with them. That starts with a place at the table.
Last October, we posted an article titled "Nothing About Us Without Us: Why You Need a Disability Council Now" that enumerated the reasons having a council in every community is important. Most important of them all is the need for collaboration. Without the perspective of your community, you cannot effectively advocate, legislate, or govern on behalf of people with disabilities, and quite frankly, without their help, you'll probably fail in trying.
Does that mean you give up? Of course not.
The UN has proclaimed the IDPD theme in 2021 as "Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world."
In honor of this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities, let's work together and, as a good friend of mine in advocacy says "stop admiring the problem" and start identifying the solution. Get involved, listen, seek to understand − and then to be understood.
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!
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