International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024
Written by Claire Messenger, Manager, International Training Programme.
Today is the UN-sanctioned International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024. This year, the theme of IDPD, is amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/events/2024-international-day-persons-with-disabilities
‘The leadership of persons with disabilities is epitomised by the global disability rights movement’s slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us”. It connects the basic requirements of participation, representation and inclusion and calls for persons with disabilities to actively shape the conditions of their lives’. United Nations
Persons with disabilities make up 16% of the global population and they often face numerous barriers which prevent them from accessing roles and spaces due to discrimination and exclusion.
Across the culture and heritage sector, and around the world, museums and galleries will be delivering events with the aim to recognise and promote awareness and support for the ‘dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities’. From disability-friendly events across museums; through free admission for persons with disabilities and their families and carers; to institutions sharing their collections that tell the stories of those with disabilities, there is something for everyone.
But International Day of Persons with Disabilities is not just a day, it is an ongoing commitment to include and support disabled people in all aspects of life. And though the links below you can read about some of the ongoing work going on across our ITP global network.
Kabarnet Museum’s outreach education programmes to special needs schools Written by Lillian Amwanda, Curator, Kabarnet Museum, National Museums of Kenya (Kenya, ITP 2024)
Creating Neuro-Inclusive Museum Experiences for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: 5 Actionable Tips Written by Siddhant Shah, Founder & Access Consultant, Access For ALL (India, ITP 2021)
The Braille Project at Ayala Museum Written by Aprille P. Tijam, Senior Manager, Exhibitions and Collections, Ayala Museum (Philippines, ITP 2019)
Congratulations to everyone for the wonderful work being done and if you have any projects for persons with disabilities that you’d like to share, please let me know. We’d love to share your news on the ITP blog or in our ITP Newsletter 2025 which will be focusing on accessibility and inclusion.