The annual observance of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities was established in 1981. This day of observance aims to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons living with disabilities in every aspect of their political, social, economic, and cultural life within their communities.

This year’s theme is, Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming disability in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) toward 2015 and beyond. Like last year’s theme, this year’s theme was chosen because it is recognized that the MDGs does not clearly identify targets for persons with disabilities.

These goals cannot be achieved fully without comprehensive inclusion as they represent key target groups in the MDGs. The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis are among the 192 United Nations Member States and 23 international organizations who have signed and ratified the eight international development goals known as MDGs to be achieved by 2015.

This year a week of activities was chosen as the tool to observe International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is a collaborative effort between local organizations that work on behalf of this group of individuals, with the aim of creating an umbrella organization to help effect some necessary changes in our society. We are asking for your help to start a new national conversation in order to get the nation to commit to the equalization of persons with disabilities.

The United Nations Enable website states: “Disability can cause poverty by preventing the full participation of persons with disabilities in the economic and social life of their communities, especially if the appropriate supports and accommodations are not available. Given that persons with disabilities represent such a significant portion of the population, and are more likely to live in poverty than their peers without disabilities, ensuring that they are integrated into all development activities is essential in order to achieve international development goals.”

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