IDPD is coming up!
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (also known as IDPD, as it’s a bit of a mouthful) is a great opportunity for brands to show commitment to inclusion and accessibility, while supporting and celebrating the Disabled community. It takes place every year on the 3rd December, and it’s a global celebration advocating for the rights, recognition, and talents of disabled people.
In this article, we’ll share seven inclusive marketing ideas designed to help brands make a positive impact on IDPD. These strategies don’t just build awareness, they help foster lasting connections with your audiences and showcase your brand’s dedication to inclusivity.
Table of Contents
What is International Day of Persons with Disabilities?
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), established by the United Nations in 1992, is a day dedicated to promoting the well-being, rights, and dignity of individuals with disabilities worldwide. This day serves as a platform for businesses, brands, communities, and individuals to promote awareness, encourage inclusivity, and celebrate the contributions of those from the Disabled community.
When is International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024?
IDPD is celebrated annually on the 3rd of December.
International Disability Awareness Day Theme
Each year, the United Nations announces a theme for IDPD that addresses specific goals or issues relevant to the disabled community. For 2024, the theme is “Building Inclusive Futures: Embracing Innovation and Accessibility for All,” with a strong emphasis on using technology and innovation to make a more accessible world. This theme invites brands to examine how they can use digital tools, creative campaigns, and products to create inclusive experiences.
Before we share the inclusive marketing ideas with you, check out what we did last year for IDPD 👀
7 Inclusive Marketing Ideas for IDPD 2024
As a marketing agency focused on inclusivity, we know that authentic long-lasting commitment is better than one-off activities, so make sure the following ideas aren’t the only thing you do to support the community!
1. Create Accessible Content
One of the simplest, yet powerful, ways to showcase your commitment to inclusivity is by making your content on social media accessible to all. This means using closed captioning for videos, alt text for images, and have sign language interpreters for both online and in-person events. These adjustments ensure everyone can fully engage with your products and messages. If you’ve never done this before, sharing an accessible post about IDPD could be a great way to start your journey and commitment to accessibility.
We have lots of content around how to create accessible content, so make sure to check out our blog and YouTube channel!
2. Collaborate with Disabled Influencers
Working with disabled influencers can provide authentic, relatable perspectives for your audience. Partnering with these creators allows your brand to amplify voices within the community while building awareness about accessibility and inclusion. These partnerships highlight your commitment to representation and help foster trust and loyalty from a broader audience. Also, did you know that disabled creators outperform non-disabled creators by 20.4%?
We’ve worked with lots of disabled creators over the past few years, see below some of the work we did with our friends at Strongbow.
3. Encourage Your Disabled Employees to Share Their Insights
Having your team sharing their lived experiences is a great way to humanise your brand and show your commitment to the community, especially knowing how many barriers disabled people face when it comes to work. Featuring employee stories on social media or in a blog series can give your audience a deeper understanding of accessibility and inclusivity. By showcasing your team members’ voices, your brand sends a message of support for workplace diversity and fosters a culture of belonging. This also strengthens your internal culture, showing employees that your brand values everyone’s perspectives.
4. DEI Training for Your Team
A team that is confident around all things inclusion and disability can be extremely beneficial to any business. Making sure your team has the proper training will help your company both internally and externally. Purple Goat offers DEI training for all types of companies, so make sure to reach out to them.
5. Gather Insights from your Disabled Customers
Insights can be an amazing way to gather the information you need to support the disabled community and disabled customers. It’s never good to assume what the community needs from you, make sure you always work with disabled companies and advocates when making decisions that will affect them.
6. Launch a Collaboration with a Disability Company or Disabled Creator
Consider launching a collaboration with a disabled-owned business or organisation, or even with a disabled creator. This would be a great way to celebrate IDPD while also giving a platform to disabled people to share their lived experiences and insights.
7. Host an Accessible Event
Events are always a fantastic way to boost engagement, and a fully accessible event is a great way to celebrate IDPD. Be mindful to ensure that the event is accessible to everyone. Encourage guests to share any accessibility requirements and be open to listening to the community and what they might need. This type of activity can raise awareness, foster inclusivity, and build genuine connections between your brand and the disability community, while also making you stand out from your competitors.
Relevant Hashtags to Use in Your Marketing
When posting about IDPD, you can use certain hashtags to ensure that your content reaches audiences who are passionate about inclusivity and disability awareness. Here are some effective hashtags to include:
- #IDPD2024
- #DisabilityInclusion
- #AccessibilityMatters
- #InternationalDayofPersonsWithDisabilities
- #DisabilityAwareness
- #BuildingInclusiveFutures
TIP: Always make sure to capitalise the first letter of each word to make sure it’s easier to read for screen readers.
Brand Strategy & Consultation
As an inclusive marketing agency, we understand that creating genuine and impactful campaigns and marketing activities around sensitive issues requires experience, insight, and understanding, but it should never stop you from doing something! If your brand needs support, consider partnering with a team like ours that specialises in inclusion and disability. We can help you identify opportunities for genuine engagement with the disability community, ensuring your efforts align with best practices and resonate meaningfully with your audience.
Collaborating with disability advocacy organisations or experts can further deepen your understanding, helping you design campaigns that truly reflect the spirit of IDPD.
Conclusion
Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities provides brands with a meaningful opportunity to put inclusivity at the forefront of their marketing strategies. By adopting the approaches we’ve shared, from accessible events and influencer partnerships to employee engagement and DEI training, your brand can make a lasting impact.
However, remember that inclusive marketing isn’t just a trend—it’s a commitment to creating a world where accessibility is the norm, and every voice is heard and valued. Don’t forget about your commitment and the disabled community once IDPD finishes, and make sure your marketing and comms activities have the community in mind all year long.
Contact the Purple Goat team today to learn more about how we could help your organisation!
FAQs
What is the main focus of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities?
IDPD primarily aims to promote understanding and advocacy for the rights, well-being, and achievements of disabled people. The day highlights the need for inclusion and equal opportunities across all areas of society, encouraging businesses to create accessible environments.
What colour is associated with International Disability Day?
Purple is often used to symbolise disability awareness (hence why we’re called Purple Goat!), conveying a message of dignity and support for the disability community. Incorporating purple into your campaign visuals can serve as a subtle, powerful nod to the values of inclusivity and recognition.
What is the hashtag for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities?
Popular hashtags for IDPD include #IDPD, #IDPD2024, #InternationalDisabilityDay, and #DisabilityAwareness. Using these hashtags can help your content gain visibility, spark discussions, and show your brand’s support for the disability community.
