Abstract
The #WeThe15 campaign was launched at the 2020 Paralympic Games (but held in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic) with a short video, a logo with accompanying hashtag and lighting up buildings around the world to raise awareness that 15% of the world’s population live with disabilities, and the barriers they experienced enabling full participation in society should be broken. And while the campaign was lauded professionally, little remains known about how the campaign was perceived in the public eye, particularly in terms of professionals who represent or have disabilities themselves. Interviews and focus groups were thus conducted in five regions around the world to better understand initial perceptions of the campaign and recommended future directions. Data were analysed collectively through a bricolage methodology. Initial impressions of the #WeThe 15 campaign were generally positive, although it seems the reach was not as global as it was initially intended. Recommendations include localisation of the messaging behind the campaign being considered more carefully, and more support provided for continuing the campaign.
https://ror.org/00hxk7s55 
