Last Wednesday was International Day of People with Disabilities for 2025. It is a day to honor and contribute to persons with disabilities.

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Another disabled placard courtesy of Openverse

Living with a disability is a constant challenge, but as someone who personally experiences it, I understand the struggles that come with it. Individuals with disabilities must navigate through life while dealing with the additional obstacles that their disability presents. The initial step in this journey involves obtaining a legal determination, which begins with a medical diagnosis from a licensed doctor. The specific disability mentioned in the diagnosis is determined by the type of diagnosis provided by the doctor. Subsequently, the disability is officially determined by the appropriate government department, such as the Social Security Administration or the Veteran’s Administration. The American Disabilities Act, enacted in July 26, 1990 by the 101st U.S. Congress is the act that legally defines any disabilities. The American Disabilities Act is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The American Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. The American Disabilities Act is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life., and becomes enacted sometimes through trial. More information about the American Disabilities Act is contained at the web page: What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?. The web page also has a great description of the explicit definition of how the American Disabilities Act is enforced: What is the definition of disability under the ADA?

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Photo by renma courtesy of Pixabay

I have compiled a compilation of resources for individuals, as I have frequently consulted these lists in the past. You have the option to either utilize them independently or enlist the help of an advocacy group to obtain the necessary resources. Based on my previous encounters, it is evident that relying on the government for assistance is futile, as they are unwilling to provide any. Even the relevant departments may claim that they are prohibited from offering “legal advice,” despite the fact that the aid provided is not classified as such. It is not uncommon for government employees to assert their inability to offer guidance, hence I believe that sharing these resource groups will be of great assistance.

🚳 🚷 🚶 🚹 🚺 🚻 🚼 🚮 🦽 👩‍🦽 👩‍🦼 🦯

Resources (NCD.gov)

🚳 Telephone References

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Disabled access – shopping courtesy of Openverse

🚷 Civil Rights

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Photo by geralt courtesy of Pixabay

🚶 Education

🚹 Employment

  • Employment Discrimination (EEOC) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission web page explaining what constitutes illegal discrimination on the basis of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and how to file a complaint.
  • Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Web page providing information for employers, job seekers, rehabilitation professionals, union representatives, and others regarding workplace accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other legislation.
  • Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) U.S. Department of Labor web page providing information about ODEP’s programs, initiatives, and grants.
  • Ticket to Work Social Security Administration web site providing information about the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program, directories of Employment Networks, and other valuable information.
  • Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN). EARN is an Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)-funded initiative that provides resources to help employers recruit, hire, retain and advance people with disabilities. The web page offers information on topics such as finding job candidates with disabilities, disability employment laws and workplace accessibility.
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© FSL – Disability Day 2015 (09) courtesy of Openverse

🚺 Financial Assistance & Incentives

  • Social Security Disability Benefits Web page featuring information on different disability benefits provided by the Social Security Administration; who can get disability benefits; how one applies for disability benefits; and other important information.
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page providing general information, history, goals, and organization of the TANF program.
  • Food Stamps (SNAP) U.S. Department of Agriculture web page explaining the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and how to apply for benefits.

🚻 Health Care

🚼 Housing

  • Fair Housing Act U.S. Department of Justice web page containing information about the Fair Housing Act and a link to the text of the law.
  • Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Access Board web page containing information of how to have an investigation started
  • Housing Discrimination U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development web page explaining the process of filing a complaint of housing discrimination.
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Photo by geralt courtesy of Pixabay

🚮 Independent Living

  • Independent Living Centers (ILCs) Directory Web page containing a list of states, with links to each state’s directory of their ILCs, which are community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential nonprofit agencies designed and operated within a local community by people with disabilities that provide advocacy, independent living skills training, information and referral, and peer counseling.
  • Client Assistance Program (CAP) Information and advocacy program for people with disabilities who are seeking or receiving federally funded rehabilitation services authorized in the Rehabilitation Act and provided by through specific state/territory grants.
  • Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR) Collaboration and cooperation between the administrators of federally-funded rehabilitation projects and to increase and enhance the quality of services, resulting in positive outcomes for Native Americans with disabilities.

🦽 International

👩‍🦽 Legal Assistance

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International Pillow Fight Day courtesy of Openverse

👩‍🦼 Technology

  • Telecommunications Accessibility Federal Communications Commission web page containing information regarding Telecommunications Relay Service, accessibility and innovation, closed captioning, and other valuable information.
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Federal government web page containing the text of the law, regulations, and standards, as well as tools and resources for its effective implementation.

🦯 Transportation

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Photo by geralt courtesy of Pixabay

🚳 Youth Perspectives

  • Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) A national, grassroots project created by youth with disabilities for youth who learn to model leadership and the power of self-advocacy that are active in our schools, communities, families and places of employment.
  • National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) A youth driven and youth led non-profit leadership capacity-building organization of youth living with various disabilities promoting youth leadership, education, and advocacy.

🚳 🚷 🚶 🚹 🚺 🚻 🚼 🚮 🦽 👩‍🦽 👩‍🦼 🦯

Programs for People with Disabilities (HHS.gov)

🚷 Programs for People with Disabilities: Multiple HHS agencies provide programs that improve the well-being of people with disabilities. Learn more about programs for people with disabilities and locate resources:

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Wheelchair courtesy of Openverse

Government and Local Disability Programs (Link to USAGov)

🚶 Find Government and Local Disability Programs and Services: If you have a disability, learn how government programs and services can help you with daily life.

🚹 Programs: The programs listed here are from the government. Besides these, there are many local and national non-profit organizations that provide help. You can find them online or through social workers or medical professionals.

🚺 Housing

Federal and state programs Web page with information that can help you find affordable housing. The web page has information that can help you learn about:

🚻 Jobs

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Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

🚼 Health Care

🚮 Education

🦽 Legal Issues

👩‍🦽 Tribal

👩‍🦼 Veterans

🦯 Living

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Photo by Jubbar J. on Unsplash

International Day of People with Disabilities

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3 thoughts on “International Day of People with Disabilities – 2025”

  2. God bless everyone who is living with a disability. I have depression & anxiety disorder & I know what a struggle it is from day to day.

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