“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
Established following an initiative by the World Health Organisation, The International Day of Disabled Persons has been celebrated on 3rd December every year since 1992.
World Disability Day was set up to raise awareness of disability issues, particularly in the workplace. It also aims to mobilise support for the rights, well-being and dignity of people with disabilities.
“Let our light shine for all”
The International Day of Disabled Persons takes place every year on 3rd December. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday! Sothat we can all get to know each other better and to create links between people, the OCH Foundation and the Conference of the Bishops of France are inviting all community centres, associations and parishes to celebrate this day together in the most inclusive way possible.
Universal accessibility eliminates barriers so that people who have no particular difficulties as well as those who use wheelchairs, who have sight problems, who have invisible disabilities, and so on can benefit from the same quality of experience.
Worldwide, an estimated 15% of the population live with a disability. And 1 in 10 children lives with a disability. In France, 10% of the population has a disability and 700,000 people have a mental disability.
Discover the OCH in Lourdes
Throughout 2023, to mark the 60th anniversary of the OCH Foundation, which runs the «Ose la rencontre»project (oselarencontre.fr). Enabling disabled people to make a dream come true with the help of students or young professionals throughout 2023. Simplicity, fraternity and eco-responsibility will guide the encounters.
More than 120 dreams have been submitted by people with disabilities.
At Lourdes, people with illnesses and disabilities have had pride of place since the beginning of the miracles, because sick people came to “drink from the spring and wash“.
The O.C.H. (Christian Office for Handicapped Persons) has a reception desk in the Sanctuary “where everyone can find a listening ear, compassion, support and a little light of hope to help them mov forward.” Those who give their time to listen at the OCH are a gift from God. Each volunteer draws from his or her deepest soul, this jewel of care which they offer to the person they welcome.
Collectif Ensemble - Official video clip - ENSEMBLE
Pupils from a secondary school in Alsace have produced a video to try and understand what is meant by ‘disability’. The video was made by the pupils using a song by Jean-Jacques Goldman, who congratulated the pupils.
This video was made with help from pupils from the ULIS units at Soufflenheim primary schools, who learnt the song and accompanied them in their video. Pupils from a nursery class in Sessenheim and from the IMPro in Harthouse also learnt the choreography and took part in the video. Melyane Eichwald, the project’s sponsor, a former pupil at Soufflenheim secondary school and top-level sportswoman who became a quadriplegic following an accident, also supported the initiative.
