International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020

Agnes Sarolta Fazekas PhD | 2020.12.03.

It has been widely known that 3^rd December is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It aims to raise awareness, promote acceptance and understanding in society about people with disabilities and celebrate their achievements and participation. Each year, the UN raises a relevant social issue for the International Day, which places a comprehensive emphasis on how society can strive for inclusion by removing physical, technological and attitudinal barriers that hinder the full and effective participation of people with disabilities. Eötvös Loránd University Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, joins the celebration this year again.

Worrying trends of increased exclusion and inequality

Ensuring the full and equal exercise of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be safeguarded in various policies and practices. Nevertheless, many social barriers (especially in the present pandemic) limit the full, effective and equal participation of people with different backgrounds, life experiences and access needs, including people with disabilities.

No one left behind

This year’s theme of International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 World” focuses on raising awareness of barriers in society & empowerment of persons with disabilities for an inclusive, equitable and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.

Together for Inclusion

At the Eötvös Loránd University Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, we all work step-by-step to contribute to the development of a more inclusive society. Our common goal is to educate well-prepared professionals who are open to the diversity of human existence and who have gained profound and evidence-based knowledge that can contribute to the creation of a society in which no one is excluded from society because of their disability or any other characteristic. The “Nothing about us without us” principle and empowerment of people with disabilities are of paramount importance to our faculty community. In our education, research, public scientific life, and practice, we work in synergy with various individuals with various owned lived experiences and access needs and stakeholders. This year, the pandemic and related social challenges have highlighted even more strongly the fragility of social inclusion, and the severe dangers of social exclusion. At all times, but now especially, our faculty and university community are even more cohesive and support each other in building a more inclusive and sustainable society.