International Day of Persons with Disabilities

“… most of us who experience disability and who are able to reflect on it have a ‘social’ view of disability. In other words, it is the barriers placed by society, rather than we ourselves or some feature of our bodies (including our minds), which are the ‘problem’. Accordingly, many of us would see our ‘impairment’ as the mental or physical lack of function of form, for example optic nerve damage, which we experience. Our ‘disability’, on the other hand, would be the interrelation between the impairment and the social and physical environment that prevents us enjoying life to the full.”

Justin Glyn SJ, ‘Us’ not ‘Them’: Disability and Catholic Theology and Social Teaching, Catholic Social Justice Series No. 83

International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to increase public awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disability and to celebrate their achievements and contributions. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Disability Projects Office has prepared a wide range of helpful resources for the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disability available here. Make sure you check out the links in the right side navigation for resources such as inclusion posters and a guide for making your events inclusive.

Action

Find out more about the work of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Disability Projects Office.

Read the resource for welcoming people with disability at conferences and events. What can you do better next time?

Read and reflect on Justin Glynn’s paper Us Not Them: Disability, Catholic Theology and Social Teaching It is also available as an e-book on all major digital platforms.