Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
Every year on December 3, the world marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), established by the United Nations in 1992 to strengthen commitment to rights, dignity, and participation. This year’s theme—“Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress”—frames the piece around a simple idea: social progress depends on removing barriers so participation is real, not rhetorical.
The article sets out what is preventing equitable participation in the U.S. and globally: disproportionate poverty, exclusion from decent work, and protection systems not designed with People with Disabilities in mind. It points to inaccessible education, pay inequities for equal work, and bias that shapes who is seen as “leadership material.” Institutional commitments like the UN’s Disability Inclusion Strategy show how embedding accessibility across operations turns principles into standards.
In the U.S. employment landscape, the conflict is operational: over 30 million working-age Americans with Disabilities encounter higher unemployment and underemployment; graduates can still be unemployed with the same qualifications; and screening or credential gates filter out talent. A practical fix highlighted in the article is a shift toward skills-based hiring—hire for demonstrated ability rather than proximity, stamina, or assumptions.
The solutions emphasized are concrete: accessible, job-specific learning up front; processes that Normalize and streamline accessibility; policy updates to benefits cliffs (SSI rules, Medicaid Buy-In, ABLE account eligibility); responsible disability data; and centering leadership with People with Disabilities at decision-making tables.
Read the Full Article: Rethinking Work On International Day Of Persons With Disabilities.
By: Keely Cat-Wells
