Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day to acknowledge the world’s largest minority. It is also the only minority group that anyone can join instantly due to an illness, age, accident, or injury.
As someone living with cerebral palsy, I am exhausted by the constant fight for basic needs. Managing prescriptions, appointments, and medical equipment requires careful coordination with doctors and therapists, followed by long waits for insurance approval. It is frustrating that strangers decide what I need to live well. Imagine having to justify your need for a walker and power wheelchair just to avoid being stuck in bed.
For me, one of the most difficult parts of having cerebral palsy is the lack of control over my body. That loss of independence can be frustrating and isolating, but it also underscores why awareness and empathy are so important. Behind every statistic is a person navigating daily realities that many may never see or understand.
For many, living with a disability means each day is a challenge. There is no reason disabled people must fight so hard to simply be able to live. Strength is too often held out as a virtue-a badge of honor. For disabled people, it is not a choice; it is a demand. We are expected to be strong-to access basic needs, to deal with inaccessibility, and to survive in a world built not for us. That kind of strength is not empowering; it is exhausting.
The world loves stories of disabled people who “overcome.” It is a narrative that makes others feel good while ignoring the structural barriers that made overcoming necessary in the first place. When someone praises a disabled person for being strong, they often overlook that strength was forced upon them by neglect, exclusion, and bureaucracy.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities should be a reminder that inclusion means removing barriers and celebrating the dignity, rights, and contributions of all people. True inclusion means ensuring disabled people are supported and empowered to thrive.
Sources:
Caprino, Kathy. “The World’s Largest Minority Might Surprise You, And How We Can Better Serve Them.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 14 Apr. 2016, http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/04/14/the-worlds-largest-minority-might-surprise-you-and-how-we-can-better-serve-them/?sh=737aa3ca496f.
“International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 3 Dec. 2025, https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities/2025