International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a dedicated moment each year to raise awareness and promote understanding about disability, emphasising that disability, far from being a limitation, is part of the human experience. This day draws attention to the rights, dignity, and well-being of the 1.3 billion people worldwide living with a disability, roughly one in six of us, and underscores the importance of inclusion in all aspects of life.
The 2025 theme, “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” calls on communities, governments, and institutions to break down barriers, whether physical, social, economic or cultural, so that persons with disabilities can fully participate and contribute to our shared societies.
The SPCR has funded research projects that advocate for better care and support for people facing long-term health conditions, including those living with disabilities, and these projects reflect our commitment to evidence-based improvements that enhance quality of life and promote inclusion.
- RESEARCH: Assessing and understanding the potential of assistive technology in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to support independence and wellbeing: A mixed-methods study. The aim is to find out whether assistive technology (AT) can improve health, wellbeing and quality of life of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and how access and use of AT can be improved to support independent living. SPCR Project No. 683
- BLOG POST: People with learning disabilities and suicide - Project outputs. On behalf of the Three Research Schools' Mental Health Programme Magdalena Mikulak talks about the outputs of their workshop on research about people with learning disabilities and suicide in our latest blog post.
- PUBLICATION: The Views of Adult Weight Management Dietitians on Service Provision for People With Obesity and Severe Mental Illness and/or Learning Disability: A Qualitative Study, Anitia Attala supported by NIHR School for Primary Care Research, MHF046.
As we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the SPCR reaffirms its commitment to research that deepens understanding, advances accessibility, and supports individuals living with disabilities.