Dec 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Fostering Disability Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), recognized annually on December 3, is a United Nations–proclaimed observance that promotes the rights, dignity, and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day seeks to raise awareness about the social, economic, and political barriers that continue to impact over 1.3 billion persons with disabilities globally.
The 2025 theme, “Fostering disability‑inclusive societies for advancing social progress”, calls on institutions, governments, and communities to create systems that include persons with disabilities at every level, not as recipients of care, but as leaders, decision-makers, and full participants. The theme emphasizes that true progress cannot be achieved without inclusive design, equitable access, and the dismantling of ableist structures.
Disability and Systemic Barriers in Canada
In Canada, persons with disabilities remain significantly overrepresented in poverty, unemployment, and housing insecurity. Many continue to face exclusion in education, transportation, and public services. These inequities are not only the result of physical barriers but are deeply rooted in systemic ableism, reflected in inaccessible infrastructure, discriminatory practices, and inadequate accommodations across multiple sectors. While the Accessible Canada Act and provincial accessibility frameworks offer a roadmap toward inclusion, inconsistent implementation and weak enforcement often leave these rights unrealized in daily life.
These systemic challenges are especially evident during key transition points. Youth with disabilities, for example, often face significant disruption when aging out of pediatric services, with many losing access to coordinated care or education supports. For disabled adults living in poverty, accessing disability benefits can be overwhelming, marked by bureaucratic hurdles, rigid eligibility criteria, and long wait times. The complexity of these systems compounds the barriers many already face, and disproportionately affects those navigating multiple forms of marginalization. Intersectional factors — including race, gender, Indigeneity, and immigration status — further intensify inequities. Disabled individuals who are also Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, or newcomers may experience layered forms of discrimination and reduced access to culturally safe and affirming care. These overlapping identities expose the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to disability policy and highlight the need for more nuanced, equity-focused solutions.
In Alberta, these issues are reflected in ongoing concerns about the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. While AISH remains a vital support, monthly payments have not kept pace with the rising cost of living. As of 2025, benefit levels remain capped at $1,787, leaving many recipients unable to meet basic needs. Out-of-pocket expenses for essentials like dental care, prescriptions, mental health services, and assistive devices are often unaffordable, despite being critical to daily functioning and well-being. These gaps reveal how systems continue to fall short of delivering on the promise of inclusive care.
Social Work and Disability Justice
Social workers are key advocates for disability rights and accessibility. Practicing from a disability justice framework requires going beyond compliance - it means recognizing the unique contributions of disabled communities, centering lived experiences, and challenging exclusionary systems. Social workers must also reflect on how services may unintentionally reinforce ableism or disempower disabled clients.
The profession has a responsibility to support policy reform, promote inclusive service design, and build programs that are trauma-informed, adaptive, and rights-based. Disability is not a problem to be fixed; it is a lived experience that must be honoured and supported with dignity, equity, and choice.
From Accommodation to Inclusion
Fostering inclusive societies means recognizing that accessibility is foundational. This includes ensuring equitable access to education, employment, health services, digital platforms, public space, and civic life. Inclusion also requires cultural shifts: challenging ableist language, amplifying disabled leadership, and transforming the design of public systems.
As we recognize IDPD, let us reflect on how our workplaces, organizations, and policies can more fully reflect the principles of disability inclusion. Advancing social progress requires an intentional, sustained effort to uphold the rights and dignity of all.
Resources
Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada
British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
Canadian Human Rights Commission – Disability Rights
Disability Without Poverty – Canada
Disabled Women’s Network Canada (DAWN)
Office for Disability Issues (Canada)
Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
United Nations – International Day of Persons with Disabilities