Connect!

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities!  Today, we join people all over the world as we celebrate how far we have come in support of community inclusion.  And, we also join in as we look forward to “what’s next” in this movement.

Since 1992, the United Nations has celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities each year.  Looking ahead to the future, this day is a big part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which pledges to “leave no one behind.”  You can read more about the UN’s Agenda here.

More locally, here are some of the ways people are looking at this year’s theme, which is “empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”:

The BC Government has put together a series of articles on their website that reviews how the province has supported removal of barriers – and how they plan to keep removing barriers in future.  The list includes resources that are already available (such as CLBC, CAYA) as well as new ones.  One new strategy is a Cross-Ministry Disability Strategy Reference Group.  This group, made up of 18 assistant deputy ministers, is going to explore ways that ministries and government agencies can better collaborate in providing supports for people with disabilities.

The SelfAdvocateNet website has a page for this day and how it remains relevant.  They’ve also included information on events, including the Film festivals taking place in our communities.  CLBC has also added film festival information on their events page.

Our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, also took this opportunity to highlight the steps Canada is taking, including the proposed Accessible Canada Act – our first national accessibility law.

So, let us know what’s going on in your community and how you will be celebrating today!  Leave us a comment or send us a photo.