International Day of Persons with Disabilities
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a UN day that is celebrated every year on December 3.
What do the colors on the disability flag represent?
- Green is for sensory disabilities.
- Blue represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities.
- White stands for non-visible and undiagnosed disabilities.
- Gold is for neurodiversity.
- Red represents physical disabilities.
In addition, the day is about promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development. For example, it raises awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life. WHO joins the UN in observing this day each year. Further, this reinforces the importance of securing the rights of people with disabilities. That way, they can participate fully, equally and effectively in society with others. Further, this reduces barriers in all aspects of their lives.
At its headquarters in Geneva, WHO organizes an annual IDPD event. The purpose is to educate the public, raise awareness, advocate for political will and resources, and celebrate WHO’s achievements. In 2022, the WHO launched the Global Report on health equity for persons with disabilities.
Neurodiversity Infinity Awareness Ribbon Pin
There are many awareness colors that support people with disabilities. For example, there is a flag pattern that includes five colors. The color represent different types of disabilities: red (physical disabilities), gold (neurodivergence), white (invisible and undiagnosed disabilities), blue (psychiatric disabilities) and green (sensory disabilities).
There are, however, other awareness ribbons that represent disabilities. For example, our Neurodiversity infinity pin is a rainbow ribbon in the shape of a Figure 8. This symbol is used to represent neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is described as “the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways. There is no one “right” way of thinking, learning, and behaving. Differences are not viewed as deficits.”
What is a Disability?
Disability is part of being human. Almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life. An estimated 1.3 billion people, about 16% of the global population, currently experience significant disability. This number is increasing due in part to population aging and an increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases.
Disability results from the interaction between individuals with a health condition. For example, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and depression. In addition, there are personal and environmental factors that contribute to disability. These include negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social support.
A person’s environment has a huge effect on the experience and extent of disability. Inaccessible environments create barriers that often hinder the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society on an equal basis with others. Progress on improving social participation can be made by addressing these barriers and facilitating persons with disabilities in their day to day lives.
Key Facts on International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us.
- Some persons with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than those without disabilities.
- Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health.
- Persons with disabilities face many health inequities.
- Persons with disabilities find inaccessible and unaffordable transportation 15 times more difficult than for those without disabilities.
- Health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself.
Factors Contributing to Health Inequities – Learn More on International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities.
Structural Factors: Persons with disabilities experience ableism, stigma and discrimination in all facets of life, which affects their physical and mental health. Laws and policies may deny them the right to make their own decisions and allow a range of harmful practices in the health sector, such as forced sterilization, involuntary admission and treatment, and even institutionalization.
Social Determinants of Health: Poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and poor living conditions all add to the risk of poor health and unmet health care needs among persons with disabilities. Gaps in formal social support mechanisms mean that persons with disabilities are reliant on support from family members to engage in health and community activities, which not only disadvantages them but also their caregivers (who are mostly women and girls).
Risk Factors: Persons with disabilities are more likely to have risk factors for non-communicable diseases, such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol consumption and a lack of physical activity. A key reason for this is that they are often left out of public health interventions.
Health System: Persons with disabilities face barriers in all aspects of the health system. For example, a lack of knowledge, negative attitudes and discriminatory practices among healthcare workers, inaccessible health facilities and information, and lack of information or data collection and analysis on disability all contribute to health inequities faced by this group.
