3rd December International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)

 

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on 3 December each year.

IDPwD is a United Nations (UN) observed day celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

The theme for IDPwD 2022 is ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world’.

Not an easy theme to explain to very young children, but 'inclusion' isn't and is good to see that there is beginning to be much more inclusion depicted in the illustrations in picture books. Looking through pages of  new picture books set in a school you will see children with disabilities, children with all skin colours and types of hair and dress. of course there is still more to do though.

I wrote about this day last year and the books suggested there are still worth looking for. I always find sharing Emmanuel's Dream,  the inspiring true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah with a class and then looking for him online to see what he is doing currently to ensure others with disability are also included inspires students to discuss widely and to look for other pioneers in this area. The students know of Dylan Alcott and Kurt Fearnley and now that Kurt has been appointed Chairman of the Board of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)hopefully he will have an even higher profile and his adamancy that children should see people with disabilities in their daily life will have a very positive effect.

Three books that will also expand awareness of disability and initiate discussion are: 

• We Move Together  by Kelly Fritsch et al

A bold and colorful exploration of all the ways that people navigate through the spaces around them and a celebration of the relationships we build along the way. We Move Together follows a mixed-ability group of kids as they creatively negotiate everyday barriers and find joy and connection in disability culture and community. A perfect tool for families, schools, and libraries to facilitate conversations about disability, accessibility, social justice and community building. 

• I Am Not a Label  by Cerrie Burrell

Meet 34 artists, thinkers, athletes and activists with disabilities, from past and present. These short biographies tell the stories of people who have faced unique challenges which have not stopped them from becoming trailblazers, innovators, advocates and makers. Each person is a leading figure in their field, be it sport, science, maths, art, breakdance or the world of pop.

 • Just Ask  by Sonia Sontomayor

Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. This book looks at the special powers these kids have. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.