Our Support for Moldova and Ukraine

      Our Support for Moldova and Ukraine

03
Dec
2024

Leadership for Inclusion: International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024

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Leadership for Inclusion: International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Keystone Human Services is joining a global movement to celebrate the leadership of people with disabilities. People with disabilities are leaders in KHS’s work, in communities, and in building inclusive societies around the world.

Marin Andronache lived in residential institutions in the Republic of Moldova until he was eighteen. With the support of Keystone Moldova, he moved out of the institution and established a life in the community. He is now a vocal self-advocate pushing for inclusion. Marin and his family have also had an impact on their community, helping to get a local road repaired.

“I never expected that in my life I would have children and a family,” said Marin. “Now I have a family, a little house, a job, and I communicate with many friends, with lots of people.”

This year’s theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities focuses on amplifying the leadership of people with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future. Nothing without us – the cornerstone of the disability rights movement lies at the center of the meaningful inclusion. Keystone Human Services invites all people to commit to supporting people with disabilities, removing barriers to inclusion, and investing in creating the preconditions necessary to foster their leadership.

Vibhu Sharma works with Keystone Human Services as a Disability and Inclusion Specialist with Keystone Human Services in India. As a woman with a disability, Vibhu calls on world leaders to do more to amplify the leadership of women and girls with disabilities.

“There are multiple barriers that prevent women and girls with disabilities from accessing leadership opportunities,” Vidhu said. “Some of them include stigma, gender-based discrimination, and lack of accessible educational institutions. Combine this with ableism, stereotyping and patronizing, and the continuous lack of financial resources, which prevent women and girls with disabilities from accessing leadership opportunities.”

Her recommendations are to “create leadership roles for [women and girls]; develop inclusive, accessible education opportunities; and overcome the stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination and exclusion.”

“By elevating leadership for women and girls with disabilities we not only unlock the potential for their rights,” said Vidhu, “but we also create a more inclusive and equitable world.”

IDPD GraphicArticle 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) lies at the core of Keystone Human Services’ work. It says that everyone has the right to live in the community and affirms the importance of access to services within the community and the rights of persons with disabilities to choose where and how they live.  People with disabilities are leading the way to make this a reality.

“I talked about the rights of persons with disabilities,” said Diana Zgherea, a self-advocate from the Republic of Moldova who has traveled to different countries promoting the rights of people with disabilities. “That people should live in the community, should have the right to life, to family, to have children, to work, and to good health. We should talk about our rights, so that people will respect people with disabilities. Our voice matters.”

This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, KHS is calling on governments, organizations, and advocates to amplify the leadership of people with disabilities and make Article 19 of the CRPD a reality everywhere. Learn more about the day on the United Nations website.