The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was named and founded by the United Nations in 1992 as a day of recognition, on a global scale, as a shoe of support for those with disabilities. Originally called International Day of Disabled Persons, the name change occurred in 2007 to present a more politically correct naming of the day. According to the United Nations, this day of observance is used to support those with both mental and physical disabilities and provide a platform for educating others about the challenges incurred by those living with a disability. The decision to create such a global day was the result of the success incurred by the success of The International Year of Disabled Persons which was officially deemed to be 1981.
The official date for The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is December 3rd and remains the same every year. It is a day of remembrance, reverence and understanding; though different countries and communities honor the day in varying degrees of fanfare. Each year, a new theme is used to describe the current state of affairs for those living with disabilities. Prior themes include ‘A Voice of our Own’ in 2003 and ‘Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities’ in 2007.
During December 3rd, every year, to honor the day celebrations and events occur throughout the world. Typically, the majority of events are located at United Nation headquarters in various countries and multiple cities throughout the world. By having a unified day of understanding, the goal of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is geared towards educating the community as a whole, allowing those with disabilities to speak out on issues impacting their daily lives and for policy makers to discuss ways in which those with disabilities can benefit from new and revamped programs and policies.