People with disabilities, sustainable development and work: from invisibility to priority?

Abstract The sustainable development goals reaffirmed human rights and articulated global commitments that will only be achieved by including all individuals among these people with disabilities. Despite concerted international and national efforts to uphold their rights, experiences of discrimination, social exclusion, and lack of opportunities for full and effective participation in society persist. This theoretical essay, with a reflective and interpretative nature, explores the relationship between the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and the promotion of sustainability. It uses the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a basis for analysis and the Brazilian normative framework. The discussion highlights the essential role of people with disabilities inclusion in achieving specific SDG targets, particularly those related to work, given the role of this activity in promoting equality and sustainable economic growth. Thus, it emphasizes the need to formulate strategies to boost the participation of people with disabilities in work, ensuring access to employment, permanence in the activity, and professional development.