This year’s IDPD theme celebrates—and highlights the importance of—the role that people with disabilities play in leading us all to a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), observed on December 3 each year, was established by the United Nations in 1992 to promote awareness and understanding of disability issues and to advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in every aspect of life.
The IDPD theme for 2024, “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future,” highlights the important role people with disabilities play in creating a more inclusive world. It also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have agency and a meaningful voice in decisions impacting their lives.
Accessibility in Nova Scotia and at King’s
In Nova Scotia, accessibility is recognized as a fundamental human right. Everyone should have access to communities, workplaces and services—removing barriers to inclusion allows for a diverse range of perspectives and experiences that make our province stronger. The province’s Accessibility Act demonstrates a commitment to a more equitable and barrier-free province with a goal of an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030.
At King’s, we take pride in advancing this commitment through our Accessibility Plan that outlines our compliance requirements as per the Accessibility Act, and the measures King’s will take to identify, remove and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities so that our faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and members of the broader community can access the university’s goods, services and facilities.
IDPD is also the perfect time to raise awareness about an exciting new elective available in the winter semester of 2025; “Representations of Disability in Historical, Scientific, and Artistic Perspectives” is a bi-weekly lecture series that adopts social models to examine how ideas of “disability” and “normality” take shape in different cultures and contexts. Featuring internationally renowned disability scholars, researchers, writers, artists and activists, the lecture series will also include an art show and several public lectures.
Observing IDPD offers an opportunity to highlight ongoing efforts both within our institution and throughout the broader community to promote accessibility, equity and awareness of inclusion.
Let’s use this day as a moment to reflect on and celebrate the progress made—and recommit to building a society where everyone can thrive.
Michelle Mahoney is King’s Accessibility Officer who helps guide the implementation of King’s Accessibility Plan and helps students navigate King’s and Dalhousie’s shared Student Accessibility Centre. Learn more about accessibility at King’s.
