BY JOY OFASIA
THE 2024 International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was celebrated on Wednesday with a special event hosted by the Honiara Table Tennis Association at the multipurpose hall in Honiara.
The day was dedicated to honoring the strength, resilience, and leadership potential of persons with disabilities in Solomon Islands and around the world.
Naomi Tai, the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Project Officer for the People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI), spoke about the theme “Amplify the Leadership of Persons with Disability for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.”
Tai highlighted that individuals with disabilities are not just members of the community but also leaders, innovators, and changemakers. However, she pointed out that their voices are often drowned out by stigma and misunderstanding.
“Leadership comes in many forms,” Tai said, highlighting the courage and determination of individuals advocating for accessible education or working to ensure their communities embrace diversity and inclusion.
As she reflected on the theme, Tai stressed the importance of recognizing the diverse living conditions in the Solomon Islands, where every individual, regardless of ability, has the potential to contribute meaningfully to society.
She urged everyone to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities, calling for an inclusive society that empowers individuals to take on leadership roles, fostering creativity, innovation, and resilience for a sustainable future.
“I call on us all together to make an effort to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities as we advocate for their rights and move forward toward an equitable and inclusive future,” she said.
