ON SUNDAY, December 3, 2023, the world celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

According to the National Library of Medicine, disability is part of the human condition. Almost everyone will be temporarily or permanently impaired at some point in life, and those who survive to old age will experience increasing difficulties in functioning.

Disability is complex and the interventions required to overcome disability disadvantage are multiple, systemic, and will vary depending on context. More than a billion people are estimated to live with some form of disability, or about 15 per cent of the world’s population (based on 2010 global population estimates). This is higher than previous World Health Organisation estimates, which date from the 1970s and suggested a figure of around 10 per cent.

According to the World Health Survey, around 785 million (15.6 per cent) persons 15 years and older live with a disability, while the Global Burden of Disease estimates a figure of around 975 million (19.4 per cent) persons. Of these, the World Health Survey estimates that 110 million people (2.2 per cent) have very significant difficulties in functioning, while the Global Burden of Disease estimates that 190 million (3.8 per cent) have ‘severe disability’-the equivalent of disability inferred for conditions such as quadriplegia, severe depression, or blindness.

Only the Global Burden of Disease measures childhood disability (0–14 years) which is estimated to be 95 million (5.1 per cent) children of which 13 million (0.7 per cent) have ‘severe disability’.

Disabilities take away many things from a person: career, opportunities, experiences, and more. Still, it does not mean that people with disabilities cannot live full and happy lives.

From spreading awareness to paving different opportunities, the following are some of the ways to help a disabled person.

• Be present. Your presence does a lot more for a disabled person than you may think. It makes them feel included, and it takes their mind off their condition.

• Focus on nutrition. To improve quality of life of a disabled person, you must monitor their nutrition. A disabled person should be eating nutritious food and avoiding those that they are not supposed to consume.

• Open job opportunities. Employers are compelled to give disabled people an equal chance for employment. By offering these opportunities, people with disabilities can earn their keep and become

independent.

Another major way to improve the lives of people with disabilities is to keep spreading awareness. Spreading awareness about disability can help the people suffering from it. This will encourage donations for people with disabilities to improve their lives.

I agree with the sentiments of Oliver Sacks when he wished for a world that views disability, mental or physical, not as a hindrance but as unique attributes that can be seen as powerful assets if given the right opportunities.

Nigel Seenathsingh