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International Day of Persons With Disabilities Marked by Protests and New Data on Persistent Gaps

Fresh data with street marches underscore urgent demands for accessible services.

Overview

  • United Nations’ 2025 theme, “Fomentar sociedades inclusivas para impulsar el progreso social,” framed the day as WHO reiterated that about 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world, live with disabilities.
  • In Mexico, 2024 ENIGH figures show a steep income divide, with average quarterly income at 31,098 pesos for people without disability versus 20,782 pesos for people with disability, roughly 33% lower.
  • In Mexico City, people with disabilities and caregivers marched from the Ángel de la Independencia to the Zócalo demanding fully accessible transport, dignified health services, and decent work.
  • In Morelia, a march under the banner “Nada sobre nosotros sin nosotros” pressed authorities for policies that remove physical, educational, social, and cultural barriers and ensure inclusion.
  • In Spain, advocates reported that only about one in five people with disabilities are employed and warned of disability recognition delays of around two years, urging fair assessments and better access.