International Day of People with Disability is held each year to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. This year, International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) will be held on Saturday, 3 December 2022, and will focus on the theme: Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.
Australia celebrates International Day of People with Disability 2022
IDPwD provides an opportunity for the Australian community to learn about and engage with the unique issues, challenges, strengths and achievements of people with disability in Australia. Each year, the Australian Government appoints IDPwD Patrons and Ambassadors to help promote the achievements and contributions of people with disability and champion inclusion. The Ambassadors for 2022 reflect the diversity of people with disability, including:
- Akii Ngo: a proud trans non-binary multi award-winning disability and gender equity activist and educator.
- Nathan Basha: a motivational speaker and filmmaker from Sydney.
- Chloe Hayden: an actor, performer and author currently performing a lead role in the remake of the TV series Heartbreak High.
- Uncle Wilfred Prince: an Indigenous elder who founded the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland.
- Eliza Hull: a musician, writer, speaker and Radio National podcaster.
- Julie, Braeden and the Jones family: co-founder of the Travel Without Limits magazine, founders of the website Have Wheelchair Will Travel and advocates for accessible and inclusive tourism.
You can find out more about the 2022 IDPwD Ambassadors here.
IDPwD Amabassadors: Akii Ngo, Nathan Basha, Chloe Hayden, Uncle Wilfred Prince, Eliza Hull, Julie and Braeden Jones
Get involved in International Day of People with Disability 2022
There are many ways you can get involved in International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). The community and organisations are encouraged to get involved in one or more of the following ways:
- Hold or attend an event on, or around, 3 December to celebrate;
- Join or start a conversation in your community to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability;
- Read, watch and listen to the stories and experiences of people with disability to
challenge your attitudes and assumptions; - Take action in your community to remove barriers and improve accessibility for people
with disability; and/or - Help spread the word and share your messages of support for #IDPwD online.
As in previous years, many disability advocacy organisations are taking the opportunity to promote awareness and connection, with events, campaigns, and content focusing on important topics around the theme of innovation, inclusion and development. Some advocacy organisations are hosting or collaborating on (or helping out with) local events, for example:
- New South Wales: Regional Disability Advocacy Service (RDAS) is holding an outer space themed Dance Party in Wagga Wagga;
- Victoria: VALID is collaborating on Fantastic Flicks – Disability and Inclusion Short Film Festival in Moe, Gippsland region; and
- Western Australia: WAiS together with Kin are holding The Lives We Lead Viewing in Northbridge, Perth.
ArtScreen 2022, a prestigious program supporting artists with disability to develop their creativity and careers through producing new video artworks, will hold its World Premiere Screening to coincide with IDPwD on 3 and 4 December at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Sydney Australia, presented by Accessible Arts and proudly supported by People with Disability Australia.
To find events in your local community or online, you can explore the full community event calendar. There are information kits available to download for ideas and tips to help your organisation recognise and celebrate IDPwD. You can also find a range of digital resources and printable products on our resources page.
A production image from Video artwork “Places I Go” by Dani Pearce (2022 ArtScreen World Premiere screening)
Content is also being published around the stories and experiences of people with disability. The ABC is partnering with International Day of People with Disability to feature content across all platforms exploring topics such as disability pride, inclusive education, and what it means to have a non-apparent disability. ABC recommends bookmarking this page to access stories as they are added: Celebrating Australians with disability in 2022.
ABC National disability affairs reporter, Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth Wright, ABC News national disability affairs reporter (Pictured above) has already shared insights about accessing the NDIS and Disability Pride:
- Through practising disability pride, I’ve learnt there’s nothing wrong with me and I don’t have to accept discrimination;
- NDIS funding isn’t just a one-way street – it helps participants secure work and give back to the economy.
She draws on her own experiences, as well as those of Paralympian, Janelle Armstrong, to provide insights into NDIS funding challenges.
You can also take the opportunity to raise awareness and engagement through your networks:
- Post messages of support on your social media pages, including details of how you celebrated IDPwD, what your community is doing to recognise people with disability and/or promote inclusion using #IDPwD;
- Share your story or read other people’s stories on social media using #lookbeyond;
- Talk within your networks – Join or start a conversation in your community to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.
For the latest news and updates around, follow IDPwD on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or subscribe to receive updates using the subscription box on our home page.
