Every December 3rd the International Disability Day is celebrated worldwide.

It is a date when all the media talks about the subjects of disability, about the disabled people, about their rights but, in general, they do not talk about what we, the people with no disabilities, should do to help to develop of those who do have a disability.

The proposal to celebrate the INCLUSION DAY (or the inclusion month) comes along with the intention of reaching all the rest of society and making us and them thought about what we should do to modify the environment of the disabled people to favor their SOCIAL INCLUSION, as the inclusion means that what should be changed is the environment so that the disability that a person could have will not be a limit for him/her to action with all his/her rights.

The inclusion makes reference to all of us: people WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITY.

For that named date, what we did in Buenos Aires, was to put stands in the theaters halls, with explanatory brochures and with instructed volunteers who could talk with the public that went to the theaters and tell them about the meaning of the INCLUSION and about the place each and every one of us should occupy, understanding that the INCLUSION IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

The idea is that this year we could add the soccer stadiums, restaurants and every single place that could mean a great public affluence. This year many companies have joined this initiative. In a few words, the idea is to change the angle from which we see the problematic of disability and also to understand what place we occupy each and every one of us.

I invite every organisation working for and with disabled poeple and those which are not working with them, to join with an activity that will allow us to rethink ourselves as change leaders. As each country has different schedules regarding the starting of the school activities, we could think about cellebrating in September THE INCLUSION MONTH, during which each participant will choose the convenient week.

SEPTEMBER 2008

In Argentina, other ASHOKA fellows are going to do some activities for the inclusion week.

• Beatriz Pellizari is going to collect signatures for a law project.
• Raul Lucero is going to organize a mini soccer match with his disabled students in River Plate´s Stadium, one of the most important soccer stadiumsin Argentina.
• Silvana Veinberg is going to organize a story reading marathon for deaf kids.
• We will be doing several things during that inclusion week: