We celebrate the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)
In doing so, we also applaud the work of many of our members and all people living with dementia around the world who have been working in their local communities, or on the national or global stage towards a human rights based approach to dementia and our access to the Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
This year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities also falls alongside the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the CRPD. Last year on this day, the #aday4all hashtag became the most popular across the internet. We all hope this happens again in 2016!
Dementia Alliance International recently became a member of The International Disability Alliance (IDA), with what is known as Observer Status, and we are actively working towards full membership status. For those of you who are new to IDA, it says on their website:
We are united for the rights of persons with disabilities on the world stage
"The International Disability Alliance is an alliance of eight global and six regional organisations of persons with disabilities. We advocate at the UN for a more inclusive global environment for persons with disabilities and their organisations. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is our touchstone. We are invested in ensuring that the 2030 Agenda and the Sustianable Development Goals are inclusive and in line with CRPD. We support organisations of persons with disabilities worlwide to take part in UN and international human rights processes, and use international accountability mechanisms."
Why is this important to people with dementia?
This is important for people with dementia to ensure our rights and recognition at the highest levels as people living with disabilities, caused by dementia.
It is imperative as we all work together towards the demand we made in Geneva at the WHO First Ministerial Conference in Dementia, March 2015 for a human rights based approach to dementia, and an approach that must include proactive rehabilitation and disability support.
Simply put, if communities must provide wheelchair ramps, they must also provide support for people with cognitive disabilities to live an independently in their communities as possible, and with equal access that others can expect, and are afforded.
If through providing proactive disability support for all, including people with dementia, our communities are dementia enabling and dementia accessible, then they will automatically be better for everyone of any age to live and thrive in.