December 3 is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities - more than 1 billion people worldwide are in this demographic, the world's largest minority. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world.

The theme for 2025 is: Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress, reaffirming the commitment to building a just, inclusive and equitable world.  The theme the important role that persons with disabilities play in creating a more inclusive and accessible world for all. It also emphasizes the importance of the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes that affect their lives. More information about the UN In-Person New York Commemoration event is from 10-11a.  You can watch it live at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/91600322753.

Join us today and every day to raise awareness about hearing health and support those with hearing loss.

Did You Know?

• Hearing loss is twice as common as diabetes or cancer.
• 80% of hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids, but only 1 in 4 people use them.
• Untreated hearing loss increases the risk of cognitive decline (5x), depression (18% vs. 8%), and falls (3x higher risk).
• 28% of adults over 52 with hearing loss struggle with daily activities, compared to 7.3% with normal hearing.
• 1 in 8 people in the U.S. (ages 12+) experience hearing loss.
• Hearing loss is linked to lower salaries (up to $30,000 less) and higher unemployment rates (44% vs. 27%).

Let’s break the stigma and support better hearing for all.


Credit:  Maryland Department of Disabilities 

Every year on March 1st, the disability community gathers across the nation to remember disabled victims of filicide–disabled people murdered by their family members or caregivers. Earlier this week, UMBC's Women Gender and Equity Center held a vigil as this year it falls on a Saturday.

We see the same pattern repeating over and over again. A family member kills their disabled child or spouse. The media portrays these murders as justifiable and inevitable due to the “burden” of having a disabled person in the family. If the person stands trial, they are given sympathy and  comparatively lighter sentences, if they are sentenced at all. The victims are disregarded, blamed for their own murder at the hands of the person they should have been able to trust the most, and ultimately forgotten. And then the cycle repeats within often inadequate and broken social systems.  

Since 2012, ASAN and other disability rights organizations have come together at local vigils across the country to mourn those losses, bring awareness to these tragedies, and demand justice and equal protection under the law for all people with disabilities. On March 1st, we will come together again, and we ask you to join us.  More information on those lost to filicide worldwide can be found on the Disability Day of Mourning website, which includes an Anti-Filicide Toolkit.

Resources include calling the 988 Crisis Response hotline, and reaching out to support via local resources, including Employee Assistance Programs, Retriever Integrated Health for self-care options.

Photo credit by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash accompanies the Post

December 3 is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities - more than 1 billion people worldwide are in this demographic, the world's largest minority. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world. 

The theme for 2024 is: Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.  The theme the important role that persons with disabilities play in creating a more inclusive and sustainable world for all. It also emphasizes the importance of the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes that affect their lives. More information about the UN In-Person New York Commemoration event is from 10-11a.  The event will be streamed online from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. You can watch it live at the following link: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1wej4fsjh.

December 1 is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities - more than 1 billion people worldwide are in this demographic, the world's largest minority. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world. 

The theme for 2023 is "united in action to rescue and achieve Sustainable Development Goals for, with and by persons with disabilities.  The theme reflects recent consideration of the impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and the invasion Ukraine. More information about the UN Virtual New York Commemoration event, including registration is linked here.  To view the December 1 10a-1p activities remotely, click here at that time.

December 3rd is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities - more than 1 billion people worldwide are in this demographic, the world's largest minority. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world. 

The theme for 2022 is transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.  The theme reflects recent consideration of the impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and the invasion Ukraine. More information about the UN Virtual New York Commemoration event, including registration is linked here.