International Day Of People With Disabilities

Embracing Diversity: International Day Of Persons With Disabilities

Every year on December 3rd, the world meets to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This significant day aims to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of people with disabilities while advocating for their rights, dignity, and well-being. As we commemorate this occasion, it is crucial to reflect on the progress and challenges that persist in creating an inclusive and accessible world for everyone.

History Of The Day

In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3 marked a significant moment by declaring the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons. This proclamation aimed to shed light on disability issues and garner support for ensuring the rights of individuals with disabilities, emphasizing their well-being, dignity, and access to equal opportunities.

Significance Of The Day

The significance of this day has grown over the years, evolving into a global initiative to raise awareness and advocate for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. The theme for this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities underscores a collective commitment - "United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities." The United Nations, on its official website, notes that the observance seeks to promote an understanding of disability issues, mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities, and increase awareness of the substantial benefits derived from their integration into all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

Types Of Disabilities

On this international day of persons with disabilities, let’s keep reading about the many types of disabilities that we see in our daily lives they are divided into 8 different categories, which include,

Physical Impairment - Physical impairment affects the patient’s movement and dexterity. Individuals with these kinds of disabilities usually use equipment to move and carry out daily activities. Some physical impairments can be permanent, and they occur by birth itself. The different types of physical impairment include,

• Upper limb disability
• Lower limb disability
• Manual dexterity
• Disability in coordination with different organ

 Spinal Cord Disability - Spinal cord disabilities result from the complete damage to the vertebrae or spinal cord. They are divided into two categories depending upon the extent of the damage, which includes complete or incomplete spinal cord injury. In complete spinal cord injury, there will be permanent damage to the area of the spinal cord. Incomplete spinal cord injury refers to the partial damage to the spinal cord. The two common disabilities associated with spinal cord disability are Paraplegia and Quadriplegia. They occur due to an injury in the spinal cord or damage to the spinal cord in the neck.

Brain Disability - Brain disability can occur due to injury in the brain, which ranges from mild to severe. It’s difficult to identify the extent of the brain damage. They can affect different things, which include memory, sensation, and personality. Neurological disabilities are a wide range of disorders, such as epilepsy, learning disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and neuromuscular disorders. Patients usually have dyslexia and speech disorders and cannot do the daily routine activities.

Psychiatric Disability - It is also known as mental health impairment, which affects the mind or brain. Mental health disorders such as bipolar disorders, anxiety, depression, stress, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, and Schizophrenia can develop at any age and time.

• Bipolar disorder- It is a mental condition where the patient experiences both episodes of depression and excitement and cannot be in a stable state.
• Anxiety- This includes phobia, panic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
• Depression- It is the most common mental illness.
• Eating disorders- Disturbances in eating behavior, distressing thoughts, and emotions.
• Schizophrenia- The most common mental illness and the patient has disturbances in thinking, mood, and behavior.
• Stress-related conditions or mental stress.

Vision Disability - This disability refers to patients who have lost their vision completely or partial loss of vision. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023, it’s important to note that only 10% of people are blind, while the rest of the 90% of patients have visual impairment. The various reasons for vision disability are accidents, diseases, and congenital illness. 

Common vision impairment includes,

• Scratched cornea
• Diabetes-related eye conditions
• Scratches on the sclera
• Corneal graft

Hearing Disability - The patients can develop partial deafness or complete loss of hearing ability. These patients usually use the hearing aid to assist them. Many of them use sign language to make other people understand. It is a common language worldwide that helps patients communicate their thoughts and feelings to others. On this international day of persons with disabilities, let's learn about 3 different types of hearing loss,

• Conductive hearing loss- It occurs due to a problem in the ear drum, ear canal, middle ear, and bones.
• Sensorineural hearing loss-  It is otherwise known as nerve-related hearing loss, and a problem in the inner ear causes it.
• Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Intellectual Disability - Individuals with intellectual disability have difficulty in learning tasks and processing information. So, patients feel it is difficult to communicate what they want and to understand what others are saying. On this world disabled day, let us take note on different causes of intellectual disability. They include,

• Genetic conditions
• Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy
• Childhood diseases
• Any illness or any medication taken during pregnancy.

Locomotor Disability - Locomotor disability is associated with the problem of moving from one place to another. It is taken as a disability related to bones, joints, and muscles. It causes problems in the person’s movement, like walking, picking, or holding things in his hands. Individuals cannot be calm and active, like moving here and there, picking the objects nearby, and holding things tightly, and they cannot control their activities.

Conclusion

World disabled day promotes the rights and well-being of patients with disabilities. The main goal is to make people realize and assist the patients at every stage since “Not All The Disabilities Are Visible”. It helps people gain knowledge about handling disabled people. Various organizations have hosted several camps, events, and training sessions to understand and support the people facing difficulties in day-to-day life with disabilities. Let’s get educated and join hands to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.