03/12/2025
'VC kicked the celebrations off with a 'Disability awareness and sharing' session with partners on December 1st. This also closely aligns with our approach to prioritising and mainstreaming disability inclusion across all our projects. All partners shared that people living with disability were among the most marginalised in their communities.
Insights from disability rights groups on the difference between impairment and disability featured a lot in the discussions, reminding us of the famous words of disability Barbara Lisicki,disability rights pioneer in 2013:
Disability is created by physical, organisational and attitudinal barriers and these can be changed and eliminated. This gives us a dynamic and positive model that tells us what the problem is and how to fix it. It takes us away from the position of "blaming" the individual for their shortcoming. It states that impairment is, and always will be, present in every known society, and therefore the only logical position to take, is to plan and organise society in a way that includes, rather than excludes, Disabled people."
At the session, VC's partners spoke openly of their ongoing commitment to disability inclusion , while outlining some of the challenges this can also involve. But this would not deter them in their efforts to 'Leave no one behind', which is a core part of the VC approach to development'.
Each year on 3rd December, communities around the world come together to mark the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)—a day dedicated to promoting the rights, dignity, and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day highlights the global call for inclusivity, accessibilit...
