By C. Haag (FSWC Educator)

Every society reveals itself by how it treats those who live differently from the majority.

Every December 3, the world observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities — a day to reflect on how societies include, exclude and value difference. Established by the United Nations in 1992, the day builds on decades of disability-rights activism and calls for equal access, participation and dignity for all. Today, more than one billion people — about 15 percent of the global population — live with a disability.

Remembering also means confronting darker histories. In the 20th century, thousands of people with physical and intellectual disabilities were among the first victims of Nazi Germany’s state-organized murder. The so-called “T4 euthanasia program” (1939–1941) marked a chilling first stage in the Holocaust, where doctors and officials justified killing in the name of “racial hygiene.” Those crimes remind us how quickly prejudice, when supported by pseudoscience and bureaucracy, can become policy.

The post-war human-rights movement slowly began to redefine disability — from something to be hidden or “treated,” to a question of rights and access. The 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, accepted by Canada in 2010, protects the right to education, work and independent living. The modern “social model” of disability shows that exclusion often results from barriers in neglectful planning, communication and attitudes — not from individual limits.

Today, inclusion continues to evolve from closed captioning on videos to accessible public transit, adaptive sports and classrooms that welcome every learner. Yet challenges remain — employment discrimination, digital accessibility and stigma persist worldwide.

Disability inclusion is not charity — it’s citizenship. It is about respecting human diversity and to build spaces where everyone belongs, contributes and feels part of the whole society.

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