December 3 Is OUR Day – International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025

On December 3, the world will celebrate the 33rd annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). It may be a mouthful to say, but it hardly describes the importance of its purpose. IDPD was established by the United Nations in 1992 as the culmination of the Decade of Disabled Persons, in which they focused on “promoting participation, training and employment of persons with disabilities within all government ministries and on all levels of national policy-making in order to equalize opportunities for persons with disabilities.” The purpose of IDPD is to promote rights, dignity, and well-being for people with disabilities. The theme for this year’s event is "Fostering Disability Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress." It’s all about removing barriers.

So, what does this mean for us as SCIs? This is a day of empowerment, where we can celebrate identity, community, and advocacy. Look for local events and workshops. Even if you can’t find any local celebrations, there are ways to acknowledge this day on your own. Use it to share your story with others, organize an SCI community get-together, or just take time for your own self-care. If you’re on social media, be sure to use the hashtags #IDPD2025 and #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights, and be sure to tag us at #NorCalSci too – we want to hear all about it!

Regardless of how you spend it, IDPD belongs to all of us in the disability community – it’s all about joy and moving forward.

If you’d like to learn more about the IDPD, click HERE.