International Day of Disabled Persons 2021

Defining disability! 

There are hundreds of definitions and perceptions prevailing in the mind of the masses, which leap up to their mind whenever the word disability is mentioned in a discussion. However, for the sake of this discussion, we are going to use the standard definition of disability that was coined[i] by the World Health Organization According to this definition:

“A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions)”

Before we move onto the next section, we want you to engage in a little drill. Close your eyes, and ask yourself, how many types of disabilities can you name without seeking Google’s help? The number you manage will be an honest reflection of your knowledge of the topic. May we suggest you read this discussion till the very end? You will learn something if not everything new from this brief!

IDPD: Impact & significance 

Now that we are all on the same page with regards to disability, let us talk about the event that is reserved for disabled persons worldwide. We are talking about the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, or to use the abbreviation, IDPD. The day is one of the rare occasions on which the entire world comes together and speaks in unison about the issues that are faced by disabled individuals. It is pertinent to mention here that as opposed to the general notion, the set of challenges faced by disabled individuals is much bigger than just the mobility issues. Inclusiveness, integrity, access to basic rights, and certain privileges that are fundamental rights of disabled persons are some of the key challenges faced by the disabled community worldwide. IDPD is an event that is all about voicing the concerns of the disabled community on a global level so that these issues get noticed on the highest possible levels.

From the archives! 

Now some of you must be wondering: whose noble initiative IDPD actually was? Surprisingly, this is a day that has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992. IDPD is the commonly used name for what is now celebrated as the International Day of Disabled Persons. The change was made in the year 2007, but that is hardly the most important point in this debate. What might be pleasantly surprising for many of you to know is that the UN, which maintains almost a criminal silence on many pressing issues, has always given great attention to the disabled community. In fact, before IDPD, a United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons was celebrated circa 1983-1992. The objective behind this proclamation was to emphasize the need for developing policies for the disabled. And in some countries, it did the trick! 

IDPD themes: A recap 

According to the WHO, there are over a billion people who suffer from a disability of some sort [ii]. It means one in seven individuals is disabled! How alarming and even frightening do these numbers sound! Such a massive group of people has its own set of challenges, the sheer volume of which is simply staggering, to say the least. To highlight these challenges, the concept of themes was introduced in IDPD celebrations. A theme serves as a loudspeaker, an amplifier which informs all of the world population about a particular challenge or issue faced by the disabled community. For example, the IDPD theme for the year 2020 was Building Black Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 World. We are sure that you have cracked the reasons for this theme, we will not state them here for the fear of redundancy. Going five years back, the focus was more on inclusion, hence the theme for IDPD 2015 was “Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities”. Cutting the long story short, a theme can magnify the under discussion issue on a global level in a most effective manner!

IDPD 2021 

The last 18 months or so have been nothing short of disastrous for humanity. The pandemic situation was even more challenging for the disabled community since it was left with no means to help itself. The theme for this year’s day for disabled persons is yet to be announced, but one can expect that the organizer will be thinking around the same lines as the last year. IDPD 2021 will be observed on Friday, 3rd December 2021. Jump to the next section, if you want to know about how you can become a part of this year’s day of disabled persons!

Become a part of IDPD 2021! 

There is no single way of celebrating this day. For example, you could visit a facility for the disabled individuals in your vicinity and spend some time with the residents over there. Or, you could raise awareness about the importance of this day in your friends and family circle. Make people realize that the disabled have issues that go unheard in most cases!  You can raise awareness online as well by tweeting or posting on other social media platforms about the IDPD 2021. Another fine way of helping the disabled is to donate some money to their treatment which can help them revert to the good old days of a normal, mobile life. And if you are looking for an organization that is fighting for the disabled with unparalleled enthusiasm, we have got a name that you can consider. Transparent Hands. 

Celebrate IDPD with Transparent Hands! 

Transparent Hands is the largest technological platform for crowdfunding in the healthcare sector of Pakistan. It offers a complete range of free healthcare services including medical and surgical treatments, medical camps, and telehealth facilities to the underprivileged community of Pakistan. The platform provides visibility to underprivileged patients and builds a personal and trusted bond between patients and donors while ensuring complete transparency. It also sets up free medical camps in the rural areas of Pakistan in which, free medical consultation, free medicines, and free diagnostic tests are provided to deserving patients. Donors from all over the world can use the Transparent Hands crowdfunding web portal and donate through 100% secure payment modes. They could select any patient, fund the treatment and receive regular feedback and updates until the patient has recovered completely.

[i] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability.html#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20World%20Health,%2C%20walking%2C%20or%20problem%20solving.

[ii] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health