December 3rd is the International Day of Persons With Disabilities 2023.
It’s a chance to celebrate human diversity and acknowledge the unique challenges faced by disabled people.
This International Day of Persons With Disabilities (IDPWD) takes a moment to recognize the contributions of disabled people in your workplace. This way we make sure their voices are heard and their needs are actively included into everyday life.
According to the United Nations, studies and real-world examples show that eliminating obstacles for people with disabilities allows them to fully engage in community life. It’s beneficial for everyone involved.
In this article we’ll go over ways to support the cause in your business. Start advocating for solutions like better accessibility and reduced stigma in the workplace.
Still wondering what is the International Day of Persons With Disabilities? Keep reading to get some answers.
What is International Day of Persons With Disabilities?
In 1992 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons.
The objective of this annual observance is to advocate for the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities. By recognizing the circumstances faced by persons with disabilities, there’s a better chance to make some changes.
Over 1 billion people in the world have some form of disability.
Currently there are over 8 billion individuals living in this planet. You’ll be surprised to learn that over one billion, about 15% of people worldwide, experience some kind of disability, according to the UN. A significant majority (around 80%) live in developing nations.
Having a disability isn’t as unusual as it may sound. A disability is regarded as a substantial deviation from the typical abilities of a person’s reference group. These range from:
- physical limitations
- sensory losses
- cognitive difficulties
- intellectual challenges
- mental health issues
- all the way to long-term illnesses
Now you know what is International Day of Persons With Disabilities. Let’s talk about some ways you can support people with diverse needs in the workplace.
10 Tips to Support International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Your Business
Let’s go over some tips and examples to inspire action:
1. Launch an Annual Awareness Campaign
Add an International Day of Persons With Disability awareness campaign to your business calendar.
Each year you can decide if the campaign will focus on educating employees or to raise funds for a related charity. It can even be aiming to advocate for policy changes.
Here are some examples you can apply for your awareness campaign:
- host a series of workshops led by disability advocates for your employees.
- organize a virtual fundraiser for a disability-focused nonprofit.
- create social media campaign using hashtags and challenges to spread awareness.
Raise awareness among staff about the significance of the International Day of Persons With Disabilities.
2. Make a Workplace Accessibility Check
Prioritizing disability inclusion is essential for organizations. Dec 3, International Day of Persons With Disabilities, is a great day to evaluate your workplace for accessibility.
Before the check, take the following into consideration:
- Consider different types of disabilities: mobility, auditory, visual, cognitive, and neurological.
- Ask for feedback from employees with disabilities.
- Learn about laws and regulations for workplace accessibility in your region.
Once that’s covered, let’s go over some questions you should ask in your accessibility checklist:
- Are parking spaces designated for disabled individuals?
- Is the building step-free or have ramps and elevators?
- Are doorways wide enough for wheelchairs?
- Are there accessible restrooms with grab bars and enough space for maneuvering?
- Is signage clear and easy to read, including Braille where necessary?
- Are internal video materials captioned for employees with hearing disabilities?
- Are there quiet spaces where employees can work without sensory overload?
Here are some examples of adjustments you could make:
- Install automatic doors or add door handles that are easy to use for individuals with limited hand strength.
- Modify desks and workspaces to accommodate wheelchair users.
- Use high-contrast colors for signs and digital interfaces.
- Organize annual training sessions to promote understanding of the diverse needs of colleagues with disabilities.
That’s just a sample of questions and possible solutions. Look up for accessibility guides and checklists, like the one offered by Inclusive Employers.
Start making necessary adjustments to better accommodate for diverse needs.
3. Organize Educational Initiatives
Organize educational initiatives for the International Day of Persons With Disabilities. This includes planning activities that raise awareness, promote understanding, and encourage inclusivity.
For example, you can plan a series of workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions with guest speakers. You can also create email newsletters and use internal communication channels to promote awareness among employees.
Get some inspiration from big companies like Microsoft. Each year they organize the Ability Summit to bring together employees with disabilities to share their best practices, pain points, and dreams.
This initiative focuses on technology that’s accessible to enable individuals with varying disabilities. This year alone the summit had 20,000 attendees from 100 countries and over 70 presenters.
This is just an example of the difference these kinds of educational initiatives can reach.
4. Promote Internal Support Groups
Internal support networks for employees are key to acknowledge diversity within the company.
So why not celebrate this International Day of Persons With Disabilities 2023 with a new support group? Here’s how you can make it happen:
- Start by inviting employees with disabilities to lead and participate in the formation of the group. It’s important to consider and represent a range of disabilities.
- Once you have your leaders located, spread the word. Use company communication channels to inform all employees about the group and invite participation.
- Set up regular virtual meetings to share information and offer support. This could be a safe space for disabled employees to share their experiences and speak up if they need extra support.
- Visibility is vital, give this group presence on the company website and internal communication. Don’t forget to add the International Day of Persons with Disabilities logo.
The support group can plan International Day of Persons with Disabilities activities. It’s a great place to start!
Learn more on how to set up an employee network to improve diversity with this article:
5. Partner With Local Organizations
Broaden your community engagement partnering with local organizations. This kind of initiative can also create more inclusive environments for people with disabilities to thrive.
Here’s a real-life example:
Google has partnered with organizations like the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to improve independence for individuals living with paralysis. To enhance independence within their homes through voice-activated technology, the company distributed 100,000 free Google Home Minis to individuals with paralysis.
That’s only an example for you to get inspired. You could also create a partnership tailored to the possibilities of your company. Start by identifying and connecting with relevant disability-oriented nonprofits that share similar values to your company. Set up a meeting to understand their needs and create a partnership proposal that works both ways.
Keep in mind that employee engagement is key. Organize volunteer activities for staff and encourage your team to become more educated on disability issues.
Another way is to provide financial support for events. Always promote the partnership publicly to raise awareness among your community.
6. Adapt Inclusive Recruitment Practices
It’s crucial for companies to foster a diversity, equity, and inclusion culture. Diverse teams have repeatedly shown to yield financial benefits. This is highlighted in an article published by Forbes.
To build a more inclusive workplace, you should broaden your recruitment scope. Adapting recruitment strategies can encourage applications from people with disabilities.
Here are some actionable measures you can take to adapt inclusive recruitment practices:
- unconscious bias training for HR employees can reduce inherent biases that may affect candidate selection
- partner with organizations that serve underrepresented communities to reach a broader pool of candidates
- explicitly welcome candidates with disabilities in job descriptions
- make sure applications are accessible to everyone
Another great example is Microsoft’s global Inclusive Hiring Program. With this program they offer training for managers to help them understand the needs of people with visible and non-visible disabilities.
7. Share Employee Stories
Highlight the accomplishments and experiences of employees with disabilities in your company. Use internal communication channels to celebrate their valuable input.
For example, you can include interviews on your company’s blog or share short stories on the email newsletter. Detail how their unique perspectives and efforts have positively impacted your company.
8. Provide Training in Disability Awareness
A good training program for employees on proper disability etiquette can be game changer. It can deeply impact in the way your staff interacts with colleagues with disabilities.
Think about implementing disability-specific training programs. Consider:
- mobility impairment
- visual impairment
- hearing impairment
- neurodiversity
- mental health training
With training everyone in the workplace can understand and appreciate the unique challenges faced by their colleagues with disabilities.
For example, you can offer sign language training to employees. This way you can start creating an inclusive environment for people with hearing disabilities.
Another example to raise disability awareness would be understanding autism spectrum disorders. Everyone can learn how to create an autism-friendly workplace. You can invite an expert in the topic to share the best practices for interacting with colleagues with ADHD.
9. Sponsor Community Events in Your Area
Organizing or actively sponsoring events is a great way to promote International Day of Persons with Disabilities. These kinds of initiatives can promote awareness, inclusion, and celebration of the disability community.
For example, your company can offer financial resources for events organized by local disability nonprofits. Or you could open company spaces for hosting disability-focused events on this day.
You could even fund art programs like exhibitions or plays featuring artists with disabilities. This way you can inspire your employees and your community while offering space for artists with disabilities to showcase their talents.
10. Plan Disability-Focused Volunteer Days
The best way to join forces is through teamwork. Organizing a visit to an organization focused on supporting people with disabilities is a great act of generosity. It can also be a great onboarding activity for your employees.
This is something you can do each year on Dec 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. You could organize an annual volunteer day focused on improving facilities for persons with disabilities in the community. For example, employees could work together to build wheelchair ramps or improve the accessibility of public spaces.
So that’s it! We’ve seen a huge variety of International Day of Persons with Disabilities activities. Try implementing some of these in your workplace.
More Diversity Resources for Your Business
Now you know what the International Day of Persons With Disabilities is and how to get involved. Keep inspiring others and learn more about diversity in the workplace.
Here’s a selection of articles for you to dive in:
It’s Time to Take Action!
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a powerful reminder of what needs to be done to ensure inclusivity.
It’s time to take action starting with our immediate surroundings. Your company can show commitment to creating a world where every person is valued, and voice is heard. Start with this International Day of Persons With Disabilities in 2023. Apply some of the tips and examples shared in this article.
Let’s build together a better and more equitable future.