In Celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021

By Deidre Boulware

VP, Head of Talent, Development and Diversity

In celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, we join the United Nations in normalizing disabilities and promoting the rights and well-being of all people with disabilities throughout the world. Disability affects approximately 61 million or 1 in 4 (26%) people living in the United States and affects more than one billion people worldwide. Whether we know it or not, there is more than likely someone in close proximity to us at work or in our community that is impacted by disability.

“Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era” is the theme of International Day for Persons with Disabilities for 2021. We are acutely aware that COVID-19 remains a global pandemic and will more than likely be with us for some time. Visible or not, disability is a real phenomenon, and the barriers and challenges for people with disabilities have been more pronounced during the pandemic and highlight the continuous need to raise awareness and increase opportunity for social, health and economic support.

We continue to be reminded of the vulnerability that people with disabilities face and implore all of us and you to foster a culture of inclusion in every aspect of life. Educating and shifting hearts and minds to understand the differences in how people adapt and function to live and ensuring that all people have what they need to live to the best of their ability leads us to disability inclusion. Creating a culture of normalizing and appreciating disabilities as simply part of the essence of humanity is the real goal for acceptance and belonging.

At American Century, we recently launched Enable, our business resource group (BRG) for our colleagues with and impacted by disabilities. Enable supports and champions team members with disabilities, and those who have ties to people with disabilities.

On this day, we celebrate all people with disabilities and our continuous journey to learn, unlearn and relearn for full inclusion.

Footnote: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability-inclusion.html

1.       Okoro CA, Hollis ND, Cyrus AC, Griffin-Blake S. Prevalence of Disabilities and Health Care Access by Disability Status and Type Among Adults — United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:882–887. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6732a3external icon.

2.       UN World Health Organization (WHO), World Report on Disability: Summary, 2011,WHO/NMH/VIP/11.01,available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50854a322.htmlexternal icon; accessed January 7, 2015.