Giving a voice to youths with disabilities

In the video, “Voices of youth with disabilities,” the major challenge for youth from Ethiopia and India is not actually their disability but rather how persons without disabilities treat them. Many societies are structured in ways that limit people’s rights and potential. This includes inaccessible communication systems, infrastructure and social services; exclusion from research and surveys conducted with the general population; and negative attitudes and assumptions about persons with disabilities. 

World Vision is working with children and youth with disabilities to help them become more aware of their self-worth, rights, dignity and God-given potential, and to help school teachers or economic development facilitators increase their capacity to include persons with disabilities. Shifting away from perceiving disability as a medical or individual issue and rather as a developmental programming issue about inclusion will better empower persons with disabilities. 

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, World Vision will celebrate progress made in ensuring development work is inclusive for all