{"id":4994,"date":"2025-12-03T14:10:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T14:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/?p=4994"},"modified":"2025-11-28T14:31:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T14:31:34","slug":"international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2025\/12\/03\/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-2\/","title":{"rendered":"International Day of Persons with Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

International Day of Persons with Disabilities<\/u><\/strong><\/h1>\n

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Within the UK alone, approximately 16.8 million individuals were recorded as having a disability in a research briefing published on the House of Commons Library<\/strong><\/a> webpages. This makes up a quarter of the UK population. This is also a 41% increase from the number of persons reporting a disability within the last decade.\u00a0 Anyone can, at any point in time, develop and be diagnosed with a disability. A disability is recognised under the Equality Act 2010 as being a physical or mental impairment which has a prolonged and substantially negative impact on their ability to carry out regular tasks and day-to-day activities.<\/p>\n

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Living with a disability can come with many challenges and hardships. And can have a profound effect on the physical and mental well-being. International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes place annually on the 3rd<\/sup> of December. And is a UN-led, global observance and advocacy of the rights of persons with disabilities in the workplace and society. As well as a promotion of their achievements and contributions worldwide.<\/p>\n

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The Equality Act 2010\u2026<\/em><\/h2>\n

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The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the UN.\u00a0 Since served as an important reminder to government bodies, organisations and public institutions to regularly evaluate and enhance their policies and practices to promote inclusion and accessibility. As well as ensuring that their rights are respected and that they are not discriminated against. This is also something which the Equality Act 2010 adheres to, particularly in workplace practices and employment law. It ensures that everyone, regardless of disability and other protected characteristics, has legal protections in the workplace. This makes it unlawful for someone else or their overall employer to discriminate against them. It also ensures that employers put accommodations in place to meet the needs of employees regarded as having a disability or disabling condition.<\/p>\n

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Not every disability is visible, and not every disability presents the same way. The Sunflower Lanyard scheme was launched in the UK in 2016 to help those with hidden disabilities voluntarily indicate that they may require assistance at work, on transport, in public places, and in shops. It also encourages others to be mindful.<\/p>\n

The sunflower lanyard scheme has achieved great success, to the point that it has been implemented across many airlines globally and in the UK, as well as in the NHS and other public services. Many private organisations have implemented the scheme as well. Overall, it has allowed for patrons with hidden disabilities and conditions to easily access support and help from the outset of the journey, trip or experience.<\/p>\n

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How can our libraries support<\/em><\/h3>\n

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Accessibility and inclusion are very important to us at our Edinburgh Napier campus libraries. We aim to support patrons with disabilities or disabling conditions as much as we can and create a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment and service for all. In terms of e-resource accessibility, we have a variety of tools and digital features, including:<\/p>\n