The designation of an international year is intended to achieve social integration of the 450 million physically or mentally handicapped persons around the world by promoting their "full participation and complete equality". The UN also urged that all nations make and carry out a welfare policy for their disabled persons suitable for their particular situation.

In our country, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Affairs, organized in July, 1980, the National Committee for IYDP Commemorative Activities, which adopted Rehabilitation, Self-reliance and Helping to bring forth a welfare state as the direction for its activities. The Committee has since been working for, among others, the prevention and early detection of disablement opportunity, and the legislation to support all these. April 20 is designated as Day of Disabled Persons, when various commemorative functions will be observed to direct the nation's attention to the disaabled. It is hoped that the commemorative functions will not end in formalism, but serve to enlist the entire nation's help with national projects that should be carried out as the first step in laying the foundation for a welfare state.