The year 1981 was proclaimed the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP) by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The theme of the year was “full participation and equality.” This referred to the right of persons with disabilities to take part in society and to have living conditions equal to those of others. Other goals of the year were to increase public awareness, understand and accept persons with disabilities, and encourage the formation of organizations in which persons with disabilities could express their views. The Council of Exceptional Children was one of 260 U.S. organizations that participated in the International Year of Disabled Persons.
References:
The international year of disabled persons 1981. (n.d.). United Nations. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/the-international-year-of-disabled-persons-1981.html.
100 happenings from CEC’s first 100 years. (n.d.). Council for Exceptional Children. Retrieved October 4, 2021 from https://exceptionalchildren.org/100/history.