IDPwD 2022 celebrates storytelling

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) continues to be an important day on the calendar with organisations, workplaces, schools and community groups across Australia getting on board to join the celebration.

The United Nations theme for IDPwD 2022 was ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world’.

Hundreds of events were held nationally to recognise the day, which included morning teas, art exhibitions, film screenings and festivals.

For IDPwD 2022, we had the privilege of working with our seven incredible IDPwD Ambassadors to share their stories, perspectives and messages for the day.

We also worked with partners to showcase the contributions and achievements of people with disability across the country and celebrate diversity within our communities, including:

  • Supporting the Australian of the Year Awards to recognise exceptional Australians with disability or within the disability sector, including working with 2022 Australian of the Year, Dylan Alcott to share his messages for IDPwD.
  • Partnering with the ABC to support content makers, producers and presenters with disability to showcase their talents and celebrate Australians with disability across all ABC platforms.
  • Sponsoring Australia’s largest disability-specific film festival, the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival to support aspiring filmmakers and actors with disability and create community awareness of disability issues through film.
  • Supporting the AIS Sport Performance Awards to recognise Female Para-athlete of the Year, Emily Petricola and Male Para-athlete of the Year, Ben Tudhope for outstanding achievement in their chosen sport and beyond.

We also encouraged people with disability to share their stories, and for the community to learn about other people’s lived experience on social media using #lookbeyond.

IDPwD might be over for 2022, but the important conversation continues.

You can contribute to positive change in your community by listening to and sharing lived experiences, and supporting the participation and inclusion of people with disability all year round.

You can also join the conversation online by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.