In a flag-raising ceremony yesterday Harvard became the nation's first educational institution to officially designate 1981 the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP).

The ceremony came as part of an international effort coordinated by a 23-nation United Nations (U.N.) advisory committee to raise global conscious ness about an estimated 450 million disabled persons worldwide, stressing a theme of "full participation and full equality," the committee said in a policy statement.

Following music performed outside Lehman Hall by members of the Harvard Band, a University official and a disabled student leader gave short talks before unfurling a white flag bearing a red symbol, a design selected by the advisory committee after the U.N. proclaimed the year in a resolution passed five years ago.

Nancy Randolph, special assistant to President Bok on affirmative action and chairman of Harvard's Working Committee for the Handicapped, said "Harvard is very, very proud to join in recognition of IYDP."

Harvard has a long history of aiding the handicapped and has worked hard to accomodate the University for the disabled since the signing of the federal Rehibilitation Act in 1977, Randolph said.

The section required that all institutions receiving federal funding must make all programs accessible to the handicapped.

Citing the soon-to-be-completed Lamont Library Disabled Student Center as an example of the University's policy to increase facilities for disabled students, Randolph said Harvard has done more than simply accomodate students with physical disabilities.

Raymond V. Wayne '81, a blind student and president of Advocating A Better Learning Environment, a University student organization composed primarily of disabled students, read his speech from notes in braille.

The IYDP "provides an excellent opportunity to provide public awareness of who we are," Wayne said.

After the speeches, the flag was hung outside the third floor of Lehman, where it will remain throughout the year.

Although several businesses and office buildings have erected flags. Harvard is the first educational institution to have done so. Inayat Fleischaker, a volunteer for the U.S. council for IYDP said yesterday.

MIT, Northeastern University and other institutions and businesses will follow soon. Fleischaker said, adding that she would contact President Reagan about raising a flag at the the White House.