(United Nations)
December 1, 2009
From The Inclusion Daily Express
UNITED NATIONS– [Excerpt] Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed 3 December:
The theme of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “making the Millennium Development Goals disability-inclusive”.
We are all vulnerable to disability, temporary or permanent, especially as we grow older. In most countries, at least 1 person in 10 is disabled by physical, mental or sensory impairment. A quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as caregivers or family members.
Persons with disabilities encounter many disadvantages. They are often among the poorest and most excluded members of society. Yet they routinely show tremendous resilience, and achieve great heights in all spheres of human endeavour.
Experience shows that when persons with disabilities are empowered to participate and lead the process of development, the entire community opens up. Their involvement creates opportunities for everyone — with or without a disability.
Entire article:
Empowering Persons with Disabilities Indispensable Means for Achieving Anti-Poverty Goals, Development for All
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/sgsm12639.doc.htm
Planet of the Blind 