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International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3, 2025

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) in 2025 will be on December 3, 2025, with the theme “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.” The day is observed annually to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities and raise awareness of their inclusion in all aspects of society. The United Nations will host a commemorative event, which will include panel discussions and cultural events, and will be broadcast virtually from New York. 

Theme 2025

Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress

Across all regions, persons with disabilities and their households face challenges and barriers in the attainment of social development objectives:

• They are more likely to live in poverty;
• They continue to face discrimination in employment, receiving lower wages and being overrepresented in the informal sector;
• Social protection systems are uneven in coverage and inadequate when considering extra disability-related costs, frequently excluding persons with disabilities in the informal sector; and,
• Many persons with disabilities’ experiences within care and support systems continue to be marked by the denial of their dignity, autonomy and agency.

The three core themes of social development, i.e. poverty eradication; promotion of full and productive employment and decent work for all; and social integration, are interrelated, mutually reinforcing and require an enabling environment so as to be achieved simultaneously. The inclusion of persons with disabilities as both agents and beneficiaries of social development is indispensable. Disability inclusion in all aspects of social, economic, cultural and political life is therefore an imperative.

The theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025, “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress”, builds on the reaffirmed commitment of world leaders gathered at the Second World Summit for Social Development to build a more just, inclusive, equitable and sustainable world and their understanding that advancing progress on social development depends on, and indeed necessitates, the inclusion of all segments of society.

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy

When launching the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy in June 2019, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations should lead by example and raise the Organization’s standards and performance on disability inclusion—across all pillars of work, from headquarters to the field. 

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

n 2025, the Secretary-General submitted his sixth report on disability inclusion in the UN system. Building on six years of implementation, this year’s system-wide report reflects on the progress made to advance disability inclusion between 2019 to 2024, celebrates key achievements, and outlines priorities for accelerating system-wide change. The recommendations lay out the Secretary-General’s vision for the future of UNDIS, setting a higher standard and inspiring transformative, system-wide progress on disability inclusion.

Commemorative Event: 3 December 2025

The commemorative event will take place virtually from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. (EST) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and will bring together Member States, UN leaders, disability advocates and youth.

10:00-10:30am: Opening Segment

The opening segment will explore ways of achieving disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress through the framework of the Doha Political Declaration. Speakers will discuss how the Doha Political Declaration integrates disability inclusion and how it can assist Member States, as a framework replete with practical tools and solutions, to achieve social development for, with and by persons with disabilities.

10:30am-11:30am: Panel Discussion

The online panel discussion will focus on key areas of disability inclusion and discuss enabling factors that are critical to achieving disability inclusion, thereby contributing to advancing progress in social development.

The following key points will structure the discussion and guide panellists when sharing their presentations and insights:

• Highlighting promising practices, practical examples and case studies;
• How the Doha Political Declaration and the Programme of Action for Social Development can be harnessed and utilised to accelerate momentum and progress towards disability inclusive societies and social progress; and
• Outlook on future developments and challenges to fostering disability inclusion as a means of advancing social progress and development.

Did you know? 

• An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us.
• Some persons with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than those without disabilities.
• Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health.
• Health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself.

Source: WHO Factsheet

Watch

Nyle Di Marco, New York Times bestselling author, producer, advocate, and actor talks about disabilities and Human Rights.

Members Meeting Noon on December 9, 2025

Keynote Speaker, Marcie Roth, CEO, World Institute on Disability

Please join us for our Virtual December Member Meeting at Noon on December 9, 2025, as we recognize the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec 3) “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress.”

Register to attend the December 9 DC Metro Members Meeting

We will introduce our new Board members and members and share plans for 2026 activities. Our invited Keynote Speaker is Marcie Roth, CEO at World Institute on Disability, whose services include Accessibility and Universal Design, Emergency, Disaster and Climate Resistance and Community Inclusion.

Members attend free, Non-members welcome with a $10 registration.

ASL and Zoom captioning will be provided. 

Please contact Katherine McCary with any questions.

Mark your calendar for March 10, 2026 at noon for our March Member Meeting.

Advancing Disability Inclusion in 2026: Roundtable Lunch

December 10, 2025 Noon - 2:00 pm

Richmond, VA

Register to Attend the Richmond Roundtable Lunch Now:

Space is Limited

Sponsored by Peak Performers, in collaboration with Disability:IN DC Metr0o, and Virginia Ability

Please join us as our guest on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from Noon – 2:00 pm at Cooper’s Hawk at 11792 w. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23233 for our first Greater Richmond Disability Roundtable featuring Myles Wallace, James Lucier (Peak Performers) and The Hon. Katherine McCary, Disability IN:DC Metro.

This informal, peer-to-peer discussion will bring together recognized disability leaders, including individuals with disabilities, advocates and allies, in an exchange of ideas and best practices for enhancing disability inclusion in the workplace and among corporate suppliers. We encourage all attendees to contribute their perspectives on barriers to inclusion, address common myths and concerns, and share success stories that can inspire others.

To ensure everyone can participate fully, please notify us of any accommodations you may require by December 2.

Please register no later than December 5 to confirm your spot.

We look forward to your valuable insights and this meaningful conversation.

Promoting Inclusion

Expanding Disability Education and Awareness

Our focus is on Culture Change!

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary on 2026!

Twice honored as Disability:IN Affiliate of the Year

 Led by The Hon. Katherine McCary

Founding Chair of Disability:IN National and

CEO, Executive Director of Disability:IN DC Metro

Disability:IN DC Metro (DC Metro) is an employer-led membership-based business association that creates business to business connections, dialogue, and learning within our geographic region of Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, an area known as the National Capital Region. Our offerings, however, are not limited to geographic location. All DC Metro corporate member employees enjoy member benefits regardless of their physical geography. You don't have to live in the National Capital Region to engage and enjoy DC Metro's Professional Development Courses and topical Hybrid Programming!

Our Vision

“Cultivate workforces and workplaces where talent with disabilities are recruited, included, promoted, retained and valued as both internal talent and innovative vendors.”

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