Rare Disease Day Feb 28 - Honoring 300M People Worldwide Show Your Stripes> 2/28 UMBC Sustainability Contest Join ADS and Student Disability Services and campus partner UMBC Sustainability to celebrate and honor Rare Disease Day on February 28th.

Check out Accessibility Matters' Awareness Page with Contest Details here! (link)

What is Rare Disease Day?

Rare Disease Day is the globally-coordinated movement on rare diseases, working towards equity in social opportunity, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for people living with a rare disease.  

Since its creation in 2008, Rare Disease Day has played a critical part in building an international community that is multi-disease, global, and diverse– but united in purpose. Rare Disease Day is observed every year on 28 February (or 29 in leap years)—the rarest day of the year. Rare Disease Day provides an energy and focal point that enables rare diseases advocacy work to progress on the local, national and international levels.

Though Rare Disease Day is led by the people with these health conditions, everyone, including families and friends, healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers, and the general public, can participate in raising awareness and taking action to raise awareness.

By Sharing your colors via social media here (link), by sharing experiences online and with friends, by calling on elected officials and shining the light on the experience of people living with a rare disease, we can change to world for the better.  These improvements are not only for the 300 million people worldwide, but shape health and wellness far into the future.

UMBC's Sustainability Matters group is a partner with this cause because the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in  2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action to recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. UMBC is a community, and partnership is how we continue to end stigma and accept the diversity of health experiences and abilities among our networked communities.

Rare Diseases affect people at UMBC.  Campus resources include:

The zebra has become the official symbol of rare diseases in the United States. In honor of our shared mascot we wear striped clothing and accessories to show our support of those lives impacted by a rare disease. Additionally, many wearing blue denim genes (aka jeans) to show support.  If you are looking for selfie flair on February 28th, ADS has zebra origami hearts in the reception area (near room 212) on the second floor of the Math-Psychology Building. 


A closeup photo of a zebra facing the camera accompanies this post.
]]> Join ADS and Student Disability Services and campus partner UMBC Sustainability to celebrate and honor Rare Disease Day on February 28th. Check out Accessibility Matters' Awareness Page with... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sustainability/posts/117082 https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/117100/guest@my.umbc.edu/ea8dc9681180522f4e1d3161d6173cd9/api/pixel colors contest day disability disease horse rare sustainability zebra Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/117/100/010ad17a3b1868e7e219a11274738ea7/xxlarge.jpg?1645474799 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/117/100/010ad17a3b1868e7e219a11274738ea7/xlarge.jpg?1645474799 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/117/100/010ad17a3b1868e7e219a11274738ea7/large.jpg?1645474799 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/117/100/010ad17a3b1868e7e219a11274738ea7/medium.jpg?1645474799 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/117/100/010ad17a3b1868e7e219a11274738ea7/small.jpg?1645474799 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/117/100/010ad17a3b1868e7e219a11274738ea7/xsmall.jpg?1645474799 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/117/100/010ad17a3b1868e7e219a11274738ea7/xxsmall.jpg?1645474799 2 0 false Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:05:36 -0500 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:52 -0500 International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021 (UN) Disability-inclusive leadership and participation matters

December 3rd is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world.

More than 1 billion people in the world have a disability. At fifteen percent (15%) of the world’s population, persons with disabilities account for the world’s largest minority. Furthermore, one out of every seven people is affected by disability. 

Read more from the WHO about Why is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Important?

The theme for IDPD this year is "Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world."   The Secretary-General's message on International Day of Persons with Disabilities is linked here.

Working toward an accessible future is everyone's responsibility. We engage together to create a future which insists that people are not excluded due to their health conditions that create substantial limitations in how they engage with the world. Report barriers when you encounter them - at UMBC our accessibility concern form is available 24/7 to work with any issues that arise: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/.

UMBC's Accessibility & Disability Services partners with the entire campus community -departments, groups, and individuals - to overcome barriers. Student Disability Services  is a resource for all students with disabilities.

If there is an accessibility concern on campus - report it via this linked form.  With Facilities Management maintenance or repair reporting - the best, first step is to report it to Work Control via 410-455-2550 or Workorder@umbc.edu.  For residential hall repair conditions, non-emergencies can be reported to http://fxit.umbc.edu, and emergencies can be called in to the FXIT line: 410-455-3948.

Looking for more content?  ADA Live Episode 88 discusses IDPD

Need a theme song?  Artist James Ian's song "Spaces" and inclusive, collaborative process with his Spinal Muscular Atrophy community were recently featured on CANVAS (link).  Spaces song link.

Photo of two parallel rows of flags of over 100 nations on a grass path leading to a brown United Nations building  illustrates this post. Credit: Mat Reding via Unsplash.com




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Challenge yourself with the following events:

  • Take the No Mouse Challenge - check out a favorite page without using a mouse
  • Check the accessibility of one of your papers or presentations - for Microsoft products it's under the Review menu.
  • Image description matters - it must be meaningful - check out the Alt-Text as Poetry initiative and see how visual content on a favorite website stacks up.. You can also go all-in with an accessibility checker. Take action right now in helping make digital content accessible by reporting concerns or issue found to website managers so improvements can be made.
UMBC supports website accessibility within their sites and uses Monsido to review websites for accessibility and  improvement on a departmental and institutional level.  Accessibility is dynamic, shifting with technology and upgrades, so we must remain aware and be pro-active to support first-rate digital experiences for all internet users.

Practice accessibility, share the knowledge, and make a difference!

Post is accompanied by a photo of a keyboard with a refreshable braille reader being used by a person with white hands and a plaid shirt. Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

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December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world.

More than 1 billion people in the world have a disability. At fifteen percent (15%) of the world’s population, persons with disabilities account for the world’s largest minority. Furthermore, one out of every seven people is affected by disability. 

Video Message from Ms. María Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2020

Read more from the WHO about Why is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Important?

Working toward an accessible future is everyone's responsibility. We engage together to create a future which insists that people are not excluded due to their health conditions that create substantial limitations in how they engage with the world. Report barriers when you encounter them - at UMBC our accessibility concern form is available 24/7 to work with any issues that arise: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/.

UMBC's Accessibility & Disability Services partners with the entire campus community -departments, groups, and individuals - to overcome barriers. Student Disability Services  is a resource for all students with disabilities.


Looking for more content?  ADA Live Episode 88

Photo of two parallel rows of flags of over 100 nations on a grass path leading to a brown United Nations building  illustrates this post. Credit: Mat Reding via Unsplash.com

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Each year on December 3rd, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is honored as the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world.

More than 1 billion people in the world have a disability. At fifteen percent (15%) of the world’s population, persons with disabilities account for the world’s largest minority. Furthermore, one out of every seven people is affected by disability. 

Working toward an accessible future is everyone's responsibility. We must work together to create a future which insists that people are not excluded due to their health impairments. Report barriers when you encounter them via our accessibility concern form here: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/ and work with us to overcome barriers.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' message is linked below.


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