Today, December 3rd, is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the annual observance of this day in October 1992 (resolution 47/3).

Each year, this day is observed with a focus on a specific theme. The 2024 theme is Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.

Disability impacts more people than you might think

It is estimated that 1 in 4 adults in the European Union have at least one disability (Eurostat). In the United States, the number is even higher - 28.7% of the adult population are people with disabilities (CDC). Overall, 1.3 billion people around the globe would benefit from accessible solutions (WHO).

With aging population, we can only expect a rise in numbers in the future (Eurostat).

Contributing towards the accessible future

There are many ways to improve quality of live for people with disabilities. For example, cities could invest more in accessible infrastructure, such as wheelchair ramps, elevators, or tactile pavings.

Another way is to promote use of assistive technologies, like screen readers, screen magnifiers, or braille displays. Everyday things like eyeglasses or walking sticks are also considered assistive technology.

As more and more services go online, it's more important than ever for software to have an accessible user interface. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) help developers to create web pages and web applications that are easy to use, navigate, and understand.

Enhanced accessibility is not only beneficial for people with disabilities. For example, ramps designed for wheelchair users are also helpful for people with strollers; a website with keyboard navigation support is easy to use for people with a temporary impairment as well (e.g., a broken arm).

Accessibility is a necessity, not a premium

We all can make a contribution towards a more accessible world. By promoting and implementing inclusive ideas, we make sure that each and every member
of society is able to live their life to the fullest. We need to remember: accessibility is not a premium feature, but a necessity for a functioning society.

To understand the extent of the need for an inclusive world, I invite you to watch the video below, which shows a world where the roles are reversed.