International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
This year’s theme focuses on empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.
In the federal public service, employees living with a disability still have to confront harassment and discrimination in disproportionate numbers. The Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) 2017 indicates that one in four employees with a disability report having been the victim of discrimination in the last two years. And 37% report having been harassed, compared to 18% of all employees. It comes as no surprise that employees living with a disability are less likely than others to say that their workplaces are psychologically healthy.
The Joint Learning Program is committed to raising awareness about the duty to accommodate and to foster inclusive work environments that create opportunities for all to contribute their talents and abilities. It supports building a respectful, healthy workplace culture, exempt of all forms of discrimination and harassment.