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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Logo for International Day of People with Disabilities

Turning Purple for Disability Equality 2021

3rd December, 2021 sees the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was declared in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly. The day aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and to increase awareness of circumstances faced by persons with disabilities. At the University of Manchester with a diverse workforce of over 11,000, approximately 11% have identified themselves as disabled people via staff records. We also currently welcome over 7,561 disabled students as part of our community.

How To Get Involved

The University of Manchester is celebrating the contribution made by people with disabilities, to the life of the University and the wider community, by lighting up the Academy 1 building on Oxford Road in purple. The colour purple is now widely acknowledged to be associated with campaigns related to disability and 3rd December is recognised as Purple Light Up Day, organised by PurpleSpace of which the University of Manchester is a proud member. We would like to thank our estates and facilities team who have worked with us to mark this special day.

Social media @UoMDSN @UoMEandD #purplelightup

  • Engaging with the Twitter campaign (beginning on Friday 3 December)
  • Tweet a selfie of yourself wearing purple on Friday 3 December

“Disabled people are a vital and influential part of our University community whether as students, members of staff or visitors. We are proud to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities as an opportunity to recognise the many ways in which the full diversity of what it is to be human are exemplified by our colleagues and friends”.  [Professor Alys Young, University of Manchester Academic Lead for Disability Equality]

#PurpleLightUp
#UKDHM