According to the United Nations there are more than 1,000,000 people with permanent or temporary disabilities in the world. More than 1 Billion. Are you as stunned by this number than I am? It is more than 1 Billion. This is four times as many people as the United States. If you are looking for quality disability support services anywhere and under any circumstances, you can find them on disability support Melbourne.

The UN also reports that many are discriminated against and do not have access to the services they need. “World Report on Disability”, the first ever, reports that only “few” countries have adequate mechanisms in place for people with disabilities .

It’s difficult to comprehend human statistics. We tend to only focus on the number and forget that these numbers are also human beings.

Here’s a simple comparison to help you grasp the magnitude. The number disabled people in the world is roughly equal to that of Catholics. Or about the same as the Muslim faith. Or Hindu faith. Or Atheists. Imagine if we treated these people as badly as the disabled population.

Would you be motivated to write to your local politician, if you found out that 1 in 10 Catholics around the world have reported being discriminated against and receiving inadequate health care?

How could you protest the fact that your society persecutes Atheists by withholding transport, rehabilitation services, and jobs?

What would your reaction be if one of your neighbors was barred from shopping in your local store because of their religious beliefs? Would you be upset? Yes, you would.

So why are we allowing the level of discrimination shown to people with disabilities? Most right-minded people would march in protest if disability were a religion.

The issue of disability rights is a human rights issue that must be addressed. The report quoted Stephen Hawking (a British physicist) as saying that there is a moral duty on the part of the international community to remove all barriers to participation… and invest sufficient funds and expertise to unlock their enormous potential.

The World Bank and the World Health Organization estimate that one in seven people have temporary or permanent disabilities. What can you and I do today to help?

Find a support group for disabled people. There are many. But make sure to choose one that is good. Make a donation. Or volunteer. Write a letter of support to your local politician. Insist buildings were designed with the disabled and their needs in mind.

I’ve seen people blossom from the simple building blocks that gave them life. Work, respect, thoughtfulness. Don’t be afraid to do something. We can’t allow this to continue.