events to mark international day of disabled persons, 3 december,

aim at dispelling myth that those with disabilities cannot work

A series of events at United Nations Headquarters to mark International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, will seek to dispel the myth that persons with disabilities are unable to work and contribute to the economy.

The theme for this year's International Day is “Decent work for persons with disabilities".  In societies everywhere, persons with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed than others.  While there may be many reasons for this, one of the most significant factors is negative attitudes towards employing them.  The notion that persons with disabilities do not make good employees remains ever-present.

This year's events at the United Nations seek to disprove this idea.  Speakers will demonstrate that persons with disabilities not only make good employees, but that companies benefit from hiring them.

An 11:15 a.m. press conference in room S-226 will feature Chris Sullivan, Merrill Lynch Vice-President for Special Needs Financial Services, and Judy Young, Vice-President, National Business and Disability Council.  They will illustrate diversity policies related to persons with disabilities and the benefits to companies, including the bottom line.  At the press briefing, information sheets on the benefits of employing persons with disabilities will be released.

A panel discussion from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Conference Room 4 will feature Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Young, Lenny Goldstein, Vice-President for Career and Youth Services, Lighthouse International, and a speaker to be confirmed.  The panel discussion will address the same concerns as those at the press briefing, but with more time for questions and answers and longer presentations.

A concert at 6:30 p.m. in the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium will showcase a renowned touring group from Japan’s Institute of Piano Teachers and the Disabled Research Association in their first concert in the United States.  Pianists from the group will perform on 5 December at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in a programme entitled “Different Notes”.  The concert is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the General Assembly last December, devotes a full article (Article 27) to work and employment and contains several other provisions to facilitate employment for persons with disabilities.  As of 29 November, the Convention had been ratified by seven countries and signed by 118.  Twenty ratifications are needed for the Convention to enter into force.

For further information, please visit http://www.un.org/disabilities or contact, at the Department of Public Information, Edoardo Bellando, tel.:  (212) 963-8275, e-mail:  bellando@un.org; or Daniel Shepard, tel.:  (212) 963-9495,    e-mail:  shepard@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record