The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is held annually on 3 December. Currently, more than 1.3 billion people worldwide suffer from some form of disability, accounting for approximately 15% of the world's total population. The aim of the IDPD is to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. The theme of IDPD 2023 is “United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with, and by Persons with Disabilities”, to enhance actions and international cooperation to make the SDGs a reality for, with, and by persons with disabilities.

To further discuss research related to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) has collected open access academic research on the topic of the health and well-being of persons with disabilities. We want to use this special day to share new scientific knowledge in the field of the participation and empowerment of persons with disabilities in achieving the SDGs.

Article Collection:
1. ““Enticing” but Not Necessarily a “Space Designed for Me”: Experiences of Urban Park Use by Older Adults with Disability”
by Meredith Perry, Lucy Cotes, Benjamin Horton, Rebecca Kunac, Isaac Snell, Blake Taylor, Abbey Wright and Hemakumar Devan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020552
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/2/552

2. “Health and Access to Health Services for People with Disability in Australia: Data and Data Gaps”
by Nicola Fortune, Rosamond H. Madden and Shane Clifton
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11705; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111705
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11705

3. “Impact of the Acceptance of Disability on Self-Esteem among Adults with Disabilities: A Four-Year Follow-Up Study”
by Yun Hwa Jung, Soo Hyun Kang, Eun-Cheol Park and Suk-Yong Jang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 3874; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073874
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/3874

4. “How Did People with Functional Disability Experience the First COVID-19 Lockdown? A Thematic Analysis of YouTube Comments”
by Karen A. E. Hall, Blanca Deusdad, Manuel D’Hers Del Pozo and Ángel Martínez-Hernáez
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710550
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10550

5. “Tides of Change—Barriers and Facilitators to Beach Accessibility for Older People and People with Disability: An Australian Community Survey”
by Sasha Job, Luke Heales and Steven Obst
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(9), 5651; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095651
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/9/5651

6. “Health and Socioeconomic Determinants of Abuse among Women with Disabilities”
by Javier Zamora Arenas, Ana Millán Jiménez and Marcos Bote
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(12), 6191; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126191
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/12/6191

7. “Examining the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines among Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study”
by John Cooper Coats, Matthew Coxon, Viviene A. Temple, Cara Butler and Lynneth Stuart-Hill
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6291; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136291
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/13/6291

8. “Built Environment Accessibility and Disability as Predictors of Well-Being among Older Adults: A Norwegian Cross-Sectional Study”
by Grace Katharine Forster, Leif Edvard Aarø, Maria Nordheim Alme, Thomas Hansen, Thomas Sevenius Nilsen and Øystein Vedaa
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(10), 5898; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105898
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/10/5898

Access more articles at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/search?journal=ijerph.

Call for Papers:
“The Mental Health of Persons with Disabilities; towards Co-produced Solutions”
Guest Editors: Dr. Ikenna Ebuenyi and Dr. Olayemi Akinola
Submission deadline: 31 January 2024

“Mobile Health and Mobile Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities: 2nd Edition”
Guest Editors: Dr. Michael L. Jones, Dr. Frank Deruyter and Dr. John T. Morris
Submission deadline: 29 February 2024

Access more Special Issues at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/special_issues.

Closed Special Issues:
“Disability and Healthcare Disparities”
Guest Editors: Dr. Dikaios Sakellariou and Dr. Hisayo Katsui