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Sunday, 6 December 2009

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International Day of Persons with Disabilities falls on December 3 :

They are also a part of our society

Physical or mental disabilities could strike any of us at any stage of our lives. Disabilities come in many forms; some may have visual, hearing or mobility disabilities while others may have invisible disabilities such as epilepsy, heart conditions or diabetes; yet others may have learning disabilities or psychiatric problems.

Over 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's population is said to be disabled. Some are born disabled while others may become victims later in life due to accidents, diseases or old age. The decades-old war in Sri Lanka has rendered many young men in the prime of their lives disabled, confining them to beds and wheelchairs for the rest of their lives. Disabled people are very much a part of our lives.

It was to focus on this segment of our society that the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was observed on December 3 by the United Nations. The theme for 2009 was 'Making the MDGs inclusive: Empowerment of Persons with disabilities and their communities around the world' and focused on the need to include the disabled and their family members in international development initiatives if the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved.

The events related to the day, conducted by the UN, included a panel discussion and a Disability Film Festival. In Sri Lanka, the main events were organized by the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare. The declaration of a guarantee of equal opportunities for the disabled to education, accessibility, financial assistance for self-employment and housing and other benefits was part of the events.

The objective of the special day was to promote understanding of issues related to disabilities and to get public support so that the disabled can live a life of dignity with others caring for their rights and well-being.

The aim is to get the full participation of disabled people in the social, political, economic and cultural arenas and also to develop rehabilitation measures for them.

December 3 was proclaimed as the International Day of Disabled Persons by the UN General Assembly in October 1992, at the conclusion of the UN Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992). Subsequently, the Assembly appealed to member states to highlight the observance of the day to further integrate people with disabilities into society. Years later, despite all these measures, we find that such people are still excluded from society in many countries due to negative attitudes.

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