Dear Editor,
International Day of Disabled Persons was celebrated worldwide on December 3. This day was all about promoting the rights and abilities of disabled people. I believe “they are not disabled; they are just differently abled”. International Disability Day is not concerned exclusively with either mental or physical disabilities but rather encompasses all known disabilities, from Autism to Down Syndrome to Multiple Sclerosis.
In addition, not all disabilities are visible; they appear in different shapes and forms. For example, people with a mental health disorder, chronic pain and fatigue, none of which are visible at first glance. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), around 15% of the world’s population is considered to have some form of disability.
Our responsibility is to know their rights because when we secure the rights of persons with disabilities, we move our world closer to upholding humanity’s core values and principles. We should raise awareness about the benefits of integrating persons with disabilities into every aspect of social life, from economics to politics. We should facilitate them in every aspect, but unfortunately, we are unaware of their problems to facilitate them; most often, in moments of crisis.
People in vulnerable situations such as persons with disabilities are the most excluded and left behind. In line with the central premise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to “leave no one behind”, it is crucial for government organisations and public and private sectors to collaboratively find innovative solutions for and with persons with disabilities to make the world a more accessible and equitable place because “they” are born to shine, and persons with disabilities should not be excluded from the general education system based on disability.
Jubel D’Cruz
