Leadership is the theme for the 2019 International Day of Persons with Disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2019

Disability Rights are Human Rights

The United Nations has proclaimed December 3 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Today there are over 7 billion people on the planet. 15 percent of those people have a disability which makes over 1 billion people with disabilities. According to the 2011 World Health Organization’s World Report on Disability between 110 and 190 million people have significant difficulties in functioning (based on the social model). See the PDF here.

This year’s theme is: Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda. The Art of Autism is proud that Board member Tom Iland, who is a great example of leadership, will be speaking during the opening ceremony of the event about the importance of inclusion of persons with disabilities at all levels and in all processes and also illustrate the importance of participation, leadership and self-advocacy. He will also make closing remarks after hearing from several panelists speaking about international disability inclusion initiatives.

Tom Iland

This will be Tom’s second time speaking at the United Nations in eight months, having spoken on a panel for World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd where the theme was “Assistive Technology, Active Collaboration.”

The event will be streamed live on Tuesday, December 3rd beginning at 10am EST/7am PST. Video access is available at http://webtv.un.org/

See the events in New York on December 3

Around the country, there are events associated with this day. In San Diego, there will be a proclamation on the steps of City Hall.

Mon, December 2, 2019
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
San Diego County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway
Meet together on the steps facing Harbor Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101

Join accessibility business leaders, disability community leaders, city representatives, and community members on the steps of the San Diego County Administration Building for a press event to announce our collective commitment to “Make San Diego the Most Accessible City in America.” Click here to register.

Tuesday, December 3 is also Giving Tuesday. Please remember the Art of Autism in your giving. You can donate through our website or through our Facebook Giving Tuesday initiative. Facebook is matching donations on Dec. 3 starting at 5 AM PST (8 AM EST).

2 replies on “Leadership is the theme for the 2019 International Day of Persons with Disabilities”
  1. says: Michael Burns

    Being autistic — an Aspergian. I take offense with you considering autism as a disability.

    I prefer different neuro-type than what you propose.
    You admonish weakness whereas I see it as a strenght, I am better than you, not less than you.
    I am more intelligent — smarter, more creative and vastly stronger in spirit than you. I am physically stronger and more adapted to my environment than you.

    Can people like you, stop speaking on behalf of people like me.

    Your a parasite feeding on what your limited mind see as weakness…schoolboy.

    Why don’t you find something more production to do than create a label for me…

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