International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022
12/02/22
Guest authored by Jordan Fabula, Jay’s Program participant, 2022
Approximately 1 billion people globally live with a disability, comprising the largest minority group on the planet. As the only minority group anyone can enter at any given time, people with disabilities face unique challenges such as higher rates of poverty, lower life expectancies, and discrimination known as “ableism,” which favors the able-bodied over those with disabilities. The effects of ableism have created detriments to people with disabilities, such as insensitive word choices that mock or trivialize certain disabilities, barriers to health care, education, and employment, and even hate crimes towards individuals with disabilities.
Despite such obstacles, the world is currently taking steps to increase accessibility for those with disabilities, as evidenced by this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Started initially in 1981 as the International Year for Disabled Persons, the United Nations began celebrating annually in 1992 on December 3rd to promote a wider understanding of the difficulties that people with disabilities face, as well as galvanize support for the rights and well-being of this particular demographic.
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In numerous ways, people with disabilities are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as limited accessibility which increases the difficulty of survival in climate change-related disasters, exacerbation of physical and mental health issues, and lack of sufficient knowledge for responding to disaster situations due to limited education opportunities. As one of the most affected demographics by the climate crisis, disabled people have valuable viewpoints and experiences to offer the environmental movement.
One County of San Diego program giving opportunities to people with disabilities is the Jay’s Program, which was created by San Diego County Chair Nathan Fletcher in partnership with disability employer PRIDE Industries. Named after Jay Bariuan, an autistic employee who was the first person to participate in the program and ultimately hired full-time by Chair Fletcher, Jay’s Program assists adults with disabilities in looking for meaningful employment through a paid internship program with the County lasting six months. During this time, participants rotate across six County departments, giving them multiple opportunities to work with a variety of County programs and initiatives.
Jordan Fabula, Jay’s Program participant, 2022
One of the aims of Jay’s Program is to raise awareness for people with disabilities and help them gain valuable work skills that they can bring to the table in future jobs. Jordan Fabula has been working with this program since last June and is currently working with the County’s sustainability team. For many years, he had difficulty finding and keeping work, feeling that his mild autism was standing in the way of his ability to secure long-term employment. But thanks to Jay’s Program, he’s finally starting to find his place in the workforce, and now feels he’s surrounded by co-workers who see value in the skills he can offer as an employee, regardless of his disability. While working with the County’s sustainability team, Jordan has built skills and knowledge in the sustainability industry, including climate action and electric vehicle planning, and hopes to continue working in sustainability after completing the Jay’s Program.
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