People With Disabilities Desire Inclusion

People with disabilities are the largest ‘minority’ in society. According to the World Health Organization , approximately 15% of the world’s population has a disability that prevents them from functioning properly in their daily lives.

This broad group requires above all a change of perception and a clearer vision about them, based on reality. They want to know how they can have a more inclusive future together with the rest of society, in which they also count.

When talking about this remarkable sector in our society, it is common to hear terms like ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled’. Some countries even use the term “disabled” (as “invalid”). However, society must learn that word choice is important here. Language provides visibility and therefore determines what happens around us.

To begin with, they would like to ask us to simply speak of them as people with disabilities. In this way we avoid negative connotations. This term is much more appropriate because it allows us to talk about this group as people whose functionality is limited by a specific problem.

However, thanks to the latest tools, such as technical support or specially designed products, their limitations are no longer so extensive. The disability sometimes only emerges because specific locations have not made the necessary adjustments and changes to accommodate them correctly.

Some people and places just don’t know how to respond to disabilities and are unwilling to provide what all people with disabilities long for: inclusion.

People with disabilities: no different, only with specific needs

Every December 3rd is celebrated as a special day to remember people with disabilities. This is in an effort to promote the rights and well-being of this group.

It is essential that society not only provides adequate resources for every man, woman and child who is in a vulnerable position. This is a great first step, but there is still a lot of work to be done in other areas.

We can emphasize the fact that people with disabilities do not have much public visibility. In the world of culture, business and politics, there are not many names that come to mind. However, we would like to see leaders, film directors or artists who have disabilities.

A notable example is Stephen Hawking, who, despite suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), was able to advance in his career and become a renowned figure in his field. We need to empower these people much more to create a more inclusive and impartial future in which we don’t neglect third world countries either.

On the other hand, the WHO report points out a number of areas where we need to reflect on the current situation of people with disabilities. Let’s dig deeper into this.

Facts about people with disabilities

• More than a billion people live with a disability. They are therefore the largest ‘minority’ in our society.
• Disability has a major impact on the poorer people.
• The medical care they receive is not always the most appropriate.

• These people are at greater risk of experiencing abuse, both physical and psychological.
• Children with disabilities are more vulnerable than children without physical, intellectual or developmental problems. 
• Having a disability means fewer job opportunities.
• Something as basic as receiving resources, rehabilitation, and social and medical support completely changes the lives of people with disabilities.
• People with disabilities have difficulty integrating into their communities and participating in activities.

How to promote genuine and effective inclusion of people with disabilities

People with disabilities are not disabled people. They are people with limited functionality in a certain area, who can function normally with sufficient resources. But how can this be achieved? What can society do to ensure their inclusivity? Here are some key points.

They need support, not just care; respect and no pity

People with disabilities don’t expect you to take care of them (at least not in all cases), nor do they expect you to watch them every step of the way and always come to the rescue. What they want and need are the means to take care of themselves as much as possible. They want autonomy and the same opportunities and rights as everyone else.

Therefore, if society restricts itself to seeing only the differences, then society discriminates against this group. Awareness is certainly the first step towards inclusion.

Social and political support

Governments and public authorities should mediate in the following strategies:

• First, facilitating access to any service or building in the community.
• Facilitate access to suitable work for this group and avoid any form of discrimination.

• Also improving education through adequate resources and support for children with disabilities.
• Encouraging research to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Finally, this large and important group in our society should not need a day on our calendar to think about them. Besides December 3, there are 364 other days in a year.

Maybe they are waiting for their first job, or waiting for a support teacher in their class, and also dream of a full and happy life like all of us… This should give us plenty to think about!