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Dignity and justice for all

by Patricia

Dignity and Justice for All. This is the theme for this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Each year, December 3rd is the day that the United Nations promotes an understanding of disability issues and mobilizes support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The benefits that result from integrating persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life are countless — the U.N. wants to make more people aware of those benefits.

The theme of the Day is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities, and the U.N. suggests four different ways to contribute to this goal:

  • Involve
  • Organize
  • Celebrate
  • Take action

There is so much to do to ensure individuals with autism have the opportunity for dignity and justice. A life of dignity includes employment — a life that many individuals with autism have yet to achieve. Justice ensures that all individuals with autism have access to adequate healthcare — a goal that we have yet to achieve here in the United States. Disparities exist in so many areas for individuals with autism.

Fortunately we have pockets of success, people living with dignity who we can use as examples. Success stories like Joe Steffy, the sole proprietor of Poppin Joe’s Kettle Korn. Mr. Steffy is a person with autism, a business owner and a man who’s life is clearly dignified. The success of Mr. Steffy and Poppin Joe’s is an example of what can happen when people get involved, organize, celebrate and take action!


 

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  1. Liz S Says:

    December 3rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    Been advocating for the pwople with disabilties for the past 35 -40 years. I am legally blind but have low vision. I do it in my freelance writing from http://www.lighthouse.org, I’ve done it freelance articles for the Welland Tribune.

    The unfortunate part is that politicians , municipally, provincially, federally really don’t give a damn about persons with disabilities for the most part or whether we live with dignity or not. Most think we’re a drain on their social saftety net or the employment standards for both Canada and the US, would have grown from 30 per cent to full employment by now.

    I celebrate the day but I haven’t seen any news reports about it on TV or in the newspapers or on radio. Invisible and forgotten,as usual.