The CAFE team is celebrating International Day of Disabled People today (3 December) and we invite our friends, partners and wider networks to join us in sharing a message of access and inclusion for all.

International Day of Disabled People has been celebrated since 1992, when the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 47/3, encouraging its member states to intensify their efforts to improve access and inclusion.

Each year, International Day of Disabled People celebrates a particular theme. The theme of International Day of Disabled People 2019 is ‘The Future is Accessible’.

The International Day of Disabled People website (https://idpwd.org/) says, “The Future is Accessible means that we must all, together, look towards a future where the barriers which stand in people’s way no longer exist… Working towards an accessible future is everyone’s responsibility. Call out barriers wherever you see them, and work with us to overcome them”.

CAFE is working with our partners and stakeholders across Europe and beyond to ensure that football is accessible, inclusive and welcoming for all.

Football is the world’s most popular sport, and has a unique power to change the lives of many disabled and non-disabled people. As a supporter, an employee, a volunteer or any other role – football is for everyone.

CAFE is also proud to be celebrating International Day of Disabled People with our partners at UEFA. For the past ten years, UEFA and CAFE have worked together to improve access and inclusion within the beautiful game, ensuring that disabled people can take their rightful places across all areas of the football industry.

To celebrate International Day of Disabled People, UEFA has published a short video highlighting some of the key highlights and successes of our partnership.

The video reflects on a decade of Total Football #TotalAccess and the progress in providing a truly accessible game, including the establishment of disabled supporters associations, the development of audio-descriptive commentary and the implementation of the Disability Access Officer role.

To view the video, please click here.

When we look towards an accessible future, it is important that we reflect on the journey that we have been on so far. More disabled people are able to play their role within the beautiful game than ever before, but there is much still to do.

The CAFE team will continue to be driven by our ultimate goal of a truly accessible game – Total Football #TotalAccess.

We want to know how you are celebrating International Day of Disabled People! Let us know in the comments section below, email [email protected], call us on +44 (0)208 065 5108 or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.