International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, 2020

November 25, 2020 - Defence Stories

On December 3, 2020, Defence Team members from all across the country will be celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). On this day, we are reminded of our responsibility to better understand disability issues. We are also called to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in our communities. Our support is important so they can continue to make great contributions to the Defence Team and to all Canadians communities.

This year, the Defence Team is commemorating IDPD under the theme “Not all disabilities are visible”. This theme allows us to open the discussion on the different challenges encountered by the community. For every person with a visible disability, there are approximately four people with an invisible one. Disabilities can be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, as well as physical. Invisible disabilities include learning disorders, hearing impairments, chronic pain, sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illness and numerous other health related conditions. All of these conditions can disrupt everyday activities.

The past few months have brought many challenges, forcing us to rethink the way we are doing things in our everyday life. This is even more true for persons with disabilities. This December 3^rd, we will have the chance to open the conversation with Ashley Sullivan, National Deputy Co-Chair of the Defence Advisory Group of Persons with Disabilities (DAGPWD), and Paul Jones, DAGPWD member, about the challenges and advantages faced by persons with disabilities during the Covid-19 and how we can all be allies for them, especially for those with invisible conditions.

You will be able to join this year’s IDPD event via a MS Teams Live Events wherever you are!

Date: Thursday, 3 December 2020
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: MS Teams Live Events
Please add this event to your O365 calendar and click here to join (Please note the link has changed)
(You cannot connect via DWAN or your T-DVPNI enabled laptop.)

Len Bastien
Defence Champion of Persons with Disabilities,
Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management), and
Defence Chief Information Officer

Related links

• Defence Advisory Group of Persons with Disabilities (link accessible only on the National Defence network)
• Directorate of Human Rights and Diversity (DHRD)
• Employment Equity and Diversity (link accessible only on the National Defence network)
• Workplace Accommodation (link accessible only on the National Defence network)
• True Patriot Love Foundation
• United Nations
• Employee Assistance Program (link accessible only on the National Defence network)