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Showing posts from December, 2022

The history of the Disabled People's Movement for equality and inclusion

Celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities 2022 I have to confess, this day brings mixed emotions for me.  The principle that disabled lives have equal value is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is celebrated every year on 3rd December.  More and more businesses join in the celebrations by inviting disabled speakers, turning on purple lights and renewing their pledge to disability inclusion. And that's a good thing. But I'm always a bit uncomfortable about how little awareness or recognition there is about the background to this day. The principle that disabled people should have equal opportunities to participate in society wasn't handed to us on a plate. It was fought for, and the fight was bitter. Having had the honour to meet, and work with, some of those leaders, and indeed victors, of the Disability Rights movement, I want to play my part in keeping their fight on the record. Since IDPWD falls in Disability Hi