Who Benefits? Unpacking International Day of People with Disability

_{An image of the official logo for International Day of People with Disability.}

Each year on December 3, the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) rolls around, bringing with it a familiar flurry of social media posts, awareness campaigns, and events. At first glance, it’s a positive celebration—a day dedicated to recognising the contributions and rights of people with disabilities worldwide.

But when the confetti settles, it’s worth asking: who actually benefits from this day? At our most recent Open Dialogue we asked, is it a catalyst for real change, or has it become another opportunity for governments, organisations, and non-disabled allies to bask in self-congratulatory PR?

For many in the disability community, IDPwD is a mixed bag. On one hand, visibility matters. A designated day can draw attention to the experiences of people with disabilities in a world where they are too often overlooked.

On the other hand, that visibility frequently feels performative—less about addressing systemic inequities and more about optics. Think about the social media campaigns where companies post uplifting stories of disabled employees or clients but fail to provide accessible workplaces. Or government officials tweeting support while underfunding critical disability services.

This disconnect highlights a painful reality: IDPwD often amplifies the voices of non-disabled people more than those of the community it purports to celebrate. Corporations and organisations use the day to polish their public image. They host panels, sponsor events, or release statements pledging inclusion, yet many fail to take substantive steps to hire disabled workers, ensure accessibility, or challenge ableism in their operations.

For example, how many of these organisations have disability-inclusive leadership? How many invest in accommodations year-round, not just on December 3?

Governments are no exception. IDPwD becomes a convenient moment to tout surface-level initiatives while neglecting deeper systemic problems.

A well-attended ribbon-cutting for a new accessible building is great, but what about tackling the broader employment crisis faced by disabled people? Why aren’t governments using this day to commit to tangible policy reforms, like increasing disability support payments, improving healthcare access, or enshrining discrimination laws with real enforcement?

The problem, at its core, is a fundamental misunderstanding of what inclusion really means. Inclusion is not a feel-good story for a day—it’s a commitment to equity, agency, and systemic change. Yet, too often, IDPwD reinforces the idea of disability as an individual challenge to be “overcome” rather than a societal failure to create environments where all people can thrive. The narrative often enters on inspiration porn—stories of “brave” disabled individuals succeeding despite the odds. These stories may garner likes and shares, but they do little to address the structural barriers that perpetuate inequality.

For many people with disabilities, IDPwD is a frustrating reminder of how far there is to go. It’s not just about awareness; it’s about action.

Awareness doesn’t build ramps, fund healthcare, or end discriminatory hiring practices. It doesn’t address the fact that many disabled people live in poverty, face higher rates of unemployment, and encounter daily inaccessibility that non-disabled people rarely think about.

This is not to say that IDPwD is inherently bad. It has the potential to be a powerful platform for advocacy and change. But to achieve that potential, the focus needs to shift. First, organisations, governments, and non-disabled allies must actively include people with disabilities in planning and leading these events. Disability voices should not be tokenised; they should shape the narrative. Second, the day should serve as a springboard for long-term action. If a company celebrates IDPwD but has no disabled employees, that’s a problem. If a government tweets about disability rights but hasn’t implemented meaningful policy changes, that’s a missed opportunity.

Ultimately, IDPwD should not be about congratulating non-disabled people for their allyship. It should be about amplifying the voices of the disability community, addressing urgent needs, and holding institutions accountable.

Awareness without action is hollow. If we want this day to truly matter, it’s time to move beyond PR and focus on progress.