Campaign will help to shed light on the subject
A series of events will be held around the world this Thursday to mark International Day of People with Disabilities on the theme of ‘Not all disabilities are visible’.
The aim of the campaign, which is promoted by the United Nations, is to raise awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, among others.
During the pandemic, isolation, disconnect, disrupted routines and diminished services have greatly impacted the lives and mental wellbeing of people with disabilities.
Maeve Monaghan, chief executive of the Belfast-based social enterprise Now Group, which supports people with learning difficulties and autism, explains just how important the day is for people with a disability.
“A day like this is crucial to raising awareness of the value to families, communities and businesses of people who have a hidden disability,” she says.
“Events like this are designed to make sure we understand that people with disabilities have the same value and rights as everyone else.
“Sometimes all it takes is just a little bit of adaptation to make sure people with disabilities have the same opportunities to go into shops or access services that everyone else has.”
The Now Group came up with the idea of the JAM card (Just a Minute) to help make life easier for people with a hidden disability.
The size of a credit card, JAM has gone global and has had a huge impact on how people with a hidden disability access day-to-day services such as transport and shops.
Launched in 2012, in just eight years 60,000 people with a learning difficulty, autism or a communication barrier are now using the card which allows them to let others know in a discreet, non-verbal way that they need a minute of patience while using shops, services and public transport.
For more information on the International Day of People with Disabilities, visit idpwd. org, for the Now Group visit www.nowgroup.org and for information on sight loss and the RNIB visit www.rnib.org.uk.