International Day of Persons with Disabilities – December 3

December 3 of each year marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which carries this year's theme: "The Future is Accessible".

In this article, we will discuss a set of facts about persons with disabilities and the objective of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Facts about persons with disabilities:

• More than one billion people, approximately 15% of the world's population, have some form of disability.
• Between 110 million and 190 million adults experience significant difficulties in functioning.
• Disability rates are increasing due to population aging and the rise in chronic health conditions, among other causes.
• Persons with disabilities experience less access to healthcare services.
• Persons with disabilities can live and participate in society.
• 40% of persons with disabilities generally do not have their needs met for assistance with daily activities.

Goals of the International Day:

• Understanding disability issues in order to guarantee their rights.
• Empowering persons with disabilities to live independently.
• Obtaining the best healthcare services without discrimination.
• Promoting their self-confidence and abilities through their participation in various activities.
• Fully engaging them in all aspects of life and development.
• Identifying and removing obstacles and barriers to their potential.
• Referring children with disabilities to specialized medical and rehabilitation services to reduce mortality.
• Supporting persons with disabilities in accessing educational opportunities.
• Providing recommendations to make school environments accessible to everyone.
• Providing psychological and social support to persons with disabilities and their families.
• Raising awareness about educational and rehabilitation programs for persons with disabilities.
• Reviewing methods and approaches to develop partnerships between families and service centers.
• Focusing on the achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities.

.www.who.int

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What are the areas of the Kingdom's support for the rights of persons with disabilities in prevention, care, and rehabilitation services?

Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.