From past to present, the challenges experienced by persons with disabilities and their families continue to exist in many societies. The difficulties faced by a person with a disability begin at birth within the family and extend into the wider environment, bringing with them a series of broader social issues. In earlier periods, especially in societies with polytheistic belief systems, disability was often interpreted as a consequence of a sin committed by the family. For this reason, families struggled to accept their children, which in some cases led to children being forced into unhealthy working conditions, separated from their families, or pushed toward illegitimate means of survival.
Although levels of social and economic development differ across contemporary societies, attitudes and behaviors toward persons with disabilities often reveal similar patterns. Challenges related to insufficient educational opportunities, lack of family awareness, uninformed parenting, the classification of persons with disabilities as “disadvantaged,” as well as environmental barriers, remain among the most significant obstacles preventing individuals with disabilities from participating fully in social life.
Therefore, I hope for a society where the well-being of every individual with a disability is improved, opportunities are accessible, and the fundamental goal of social work—enhancing human welfare—is strengthened. It is our collective responsibility to address the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities in all areas of life and to ensure that they are not pushed to the margins of society. There is no obstacle to sharing life together.
I commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with hope and warm regards.
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