Today is December 3rd and the International Day of Person’s with Disabilities. Following our week long campaign looking back at activities from previous years we are happy to announce the winner of our poll for our campaign slogan is “Disabled People’s Participation Should Be Expected, Not Just Accepted” with 53% of the vote! When disabled people appear at an activity, we welcome them, but when they are not there do we ask why? We will shortly be announcing this campaign and keeping you to date with UNIDPD activities. 

Since 1992 the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (UNIDPD) has been celebrated on December 3^rd, the world over.  It is a day when disabled people can celebrate their humanity and highlight their rights and needs. 

Disability in Wales and Africa (DWA) promotes disabled peoples participation and inclusion, most notably within a sector of organisational and community “links” known as Wales Africa.  It also promotes global solidarity of disabled people, particularly between Wales and Africa. The UNIDPD is a key day within our annual calendar.  

DWA was founded in December 2010 and during the lead up to December 3^rd 2017 we invite you to take a look at how we have previously celebrated the UNIDPD.  During this week we are also inviting you to vote on the slogans below.  The winner will then be released on December 3^rd with an invitation for people to respond.

The slogans are

1. “Disabled People Must Not Get Left Behind”

So often the manner and pace of social, economic and political development means that disabled people, and other groups, get left behind and don’t gain the benefits of the changes taking place.  

2. “Disabled People Say – Nothing About Us Without Us”

Disabled people want to be part of the decision making process, particularly where it affects their lives.

3. “Disabled People’s Participation Should Be Expected, Not Just Accepted”

When disabled people appear at an activity, we welcome them, but when they are not there do we ask why?

To vote on please follow this link. Voting is open for one week until December 3rd!

International Day for Persons with Disabilities

[embeddoc url=”http://www.dwanetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/International-Day-for-Persons-with-Disabilities-2016-presentation.pptx” download=”all” viewer=”microsoft”]

Just on more day until the UNIDPD. Today we look back to December 3rd 2016 where DWA held an event at the Welsh Millennium Centre at the same time as similar activities were taking place in Africa!

In 2015 on December 3rd DWA joined with Hub Cymru Africa to celebrate the UNIDPD in the Tŷ Hywel building of the National Assembly for Wales.  The event attracted visits from Welsh Assembly Members and included speeches from Rhian Davies, CEO of Disability Wales, and Jonah Sialumano the Manager of Health Help International (Zambia). 

December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

We are delighted to bring you some images from our partners in Embu, Kenya, and their UN Disability Day celebrations.

The images include an awareness parade, the day’s entertainment, the community looking at the Welsh side of our photo exhibition and appropriate paper-based technology (APT) devices, as well as members of a disabled people’s organisation.

Today we cast our minds back to the 2014 celebrations of the International Day of Persons With Disabilities!

After a year going around different locations within Wales, and being shared with our Kenyan colleagues, the DWA photographic exhibition finished 2014 in the public foyer of the Welsh Senedd.  DWA also received an award recognising its work promoting disability inclusion within Wales Africa.

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: December 4 2014. Disability in Wales and Africa Network receive an award at the Africa Gold Star Awards at the Senedd. © Craig Redmond – Photojournalist

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: December 4 2014. Disability in Wales and Africa Network receive an award at the Africa Gold Star Awards at the Senedd. © Craig Redmond – Photojournalist

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: December 4 2014. Disability in Wales and Africa Network receive an award at the Africa Gold Star Awards at the Senedd. © Craig Redmond – Photojournalist

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: December 4 2014. Disability in Wales and Africa Network receive an award at the Africa Gold Star Awards at the Senedd. © Craig Redmond – Photojournalist

Today we look back to December 3rd 2013.

When DWA launched, at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay, a photographic display comparing life for disabled people in Kenya and Wales. 

In further celebration of the build up to the International Day of Persons With Disabilities we look back to DWA activities in 2012.

On December 3rd 2012 DWA circulated an email to all Welsh Assembly Members, highlighting the significance of the date December 3rd.

Poster credit below belongs to the UN.

As part of our celebrations in preparation for the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December the 3rd we are looking back at past UNIDPD days that DWA has been involved in.

In December 2011, its founding year, DWA circulated Christmas Greetings to its supporters using the attached picture showing an African perspective on disability inclusion.