International Day of people with Disability

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on 3 December each year and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the 4.3 million Australians living with disability.

This year Kurt Fearnley – teacher, sportsman, NSW Australian of the Year, and ambassador for the rights of people with disability – is Australia’s IDPwD patron.He credits his supportive public school education for helping make him the champion he is today.

“What I most want to achieve as this years’ patron is for people to use International Day of People with Disability as a launching pad for further action,” he says.

“People with disability are entitled to the same respect, independence and choice as others. We need to talk honestly about the barriers in society that prevent this and work together to break them down.”

Schools Competition

The Grow Inclusion schools competition is open to schools, year groups and classrooms and offers up to $3000 in accessible resources and materials.

Schools are encouraged to hold an art class, a seed-planting activity, a cooking event, any activities that open up a conversation about people with a disability and celebrates their achievements to help grow inclusion in the community.

To enter, take some great photos or videos of the event and post them on your school’s Facebook page by 5pm AEDT on 31 December 2019.

Each school’s event will be judged by an independent panel, who will visit the school’s Facebook page to see their photos or video.

The winner will be officially announced in early 2020.

Teacher resources and activity sheets to help incorporate IDPwD in the classroom are available here.