08/14/2025
Today, on International Youth Day, the United Nations celebrates the boundless potential, creativity, and energy of youth around the globe. This year’s theme — “Empowering All Youth: Inclusive, Accessible, Equitable” — reminds us that young people are at the heart of progress, but that progress can only be real when no one is left behind.
Behind vibrant movements, peer-to-peer learning, and community leadership are young people shaped by diverse experiences. Among them are disabled youth, whose resilience and innovation fill our world with fresh perspectives. These young minds are breaking down barriers — from advocating for inclusive education to designing assistive technologies and ensuring accessible communities.
Every young disabled person brings unique strengths, and every one of them deserves the opportunity to lead, flourish, and be heard. Yet the path is not always easy. Globally, disabled youth often face extra hurdles: in schooling, employment, healthcare, and social acceptance.
On this International Youth Day, we reaffirm our commitment to:
– Ensure inclusive education: All young people — including those with disabilities — deserve the tools, accommodations, and support to learn and grow.
– Promote equitable access: Education, jobs, healthcare, and activities should be barrier-free and designed for everyone.
– Elevate voices: Young disabled people must lead in policymaking, community design, and public discussion — because nothing about them should be decided without them.
To all young people — empowered, unstoppable, and full of potential — and especially to young people with disabilities: Today, we honor you. Together, let's build a world where inclusion isn't just a policy — it's a lived reality in every school, street, and society.
