International day of persons with disabilities 2020 (3rd December)
By Ann Johnson
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2020, the World Health Authority is raising awareness of the necessity to respond to the needs of people with disability in all aspects of society, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The importance is fostering an inclusive culture and the complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities as an integral part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Over a billion people have some form of disability. This corresponds to about 15% of the world's population. Between 110-190 million adults have very significant difficulties in functioning. Rates of disability are increasing, due to population ageing and the global increase in chronic health conditions.
The key messages from the 2020 International Day of Persons with Disabilities are:
• Disability is part of the human experience.
• WHO recognizes that a world where all people attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being is only possible if health systems are inclusive of people with disability.
• People with disability have been amongst the most vulnerable populations during the current COVID-19 outbreak due to many health, social and environmental barriers, discriminatory attitudes and inaccessible infrastructure.
• The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to build back better health systems so that they are more inclusive and responsive to the needs and human rights of people experiencing disability in all their diversity.
• Countries need to shift towards a service delivery system rooted in the communities, reaching out and empowering people with disability.
At Forest of hearts we have picked out several words and messages from this important international campaign to re-enforce, drive and influence our social value aims;
• To respond to the needs of people with a disability
• Fostering an inclusive culture
• Making inclusion integral to what we do
• Recognising disability does and can affect all of our lives
• That well-being activities are not an add on; but considered within everything
• The need to tackle discrimination and inaccessible infrastructures
• Reach out to the community and empower people with disabilities
All of these great words and commitments we know are nothing without action. So we have already strengthened our Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity policy, making sure we know ‘how’ we will deliver on the commitments within it.
We have included accessibility within our key considerations when choosing a plot or project to be involved in and we have developed a social impact tool kit for 2021 so that we can examine all of our working practices, services and training programmes. This is to ensure that inclusion is an integral part of our work, that our objectives are clear and that they can be measured.
If you have a disability and want to share with Forest of Hearts your experiences, dreams or access needs to enjoy edible gardens, open spaces, volunteer opportunities or outdoor well-being activities then send them to us so we can make sure they drive our 2021 social inclusion objectives.
Contact: carolelongden@forestofhearts.com
We are proud to support and work with people with disabilities.