International Day of Disabled Persons - December 3

December 3rd is marked as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day which promotes support and understanding of disability issues and the right for dignity and well-being of all persons with disabilities.

The theme for 2020 is ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’ and focuses on disabilities which aren’t immediately obvious including disabilities such as mental illness, neurological disorders, learning disorders, chronic pain/fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, depression, etc. According to WHO, 15% of the global population (over 1 billion people!) are living with disabilities, half of whom have mental or neurological conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further disconnected such people and spreading greater awareness of their invisible disabilities has become the need of the hour.