The life situation of young people with disabilities differs significantly from those of adults and elderly people. This concerns, for example, questions about a person’s own identity, the decisions about choice of a profession and career planning, finding a partner and planning a family. Furthermore, attitudes of peers and friends as well as communication practices differ a lot. Social media seem to dominate as source of information and setting societal norms including aspects of beauty, behavior and opinions. On the other hand, the use of modern technology, including information technology and artificial intelligence as well as the progress of barrier-free environments imply opportunities that have not been available before.
What does all this mean for young people with disabilities? This question must be answered by young people themselves. This is the main reasons why the Executive Committee of Rehabilitation decided to provide a forum to young people with disabilities for communication, analyzing the situation, developing solutions where needed and to develop policies and strategies to improve life situation of young people with disabilities and to shape future opportunities. A Youth Forum within an international organization also includes an opportunity to communicate with peers all around the globe and furthermore to profit from RI’s networks and the exchange with a generation of experienced leaders in the field of rehabilitation, inclusion and human rights policies.
The perspective of young people with disabilities are related to RI’s activities and policy goals is in many ways. Just a few examples:
- Rehabilitation International is advocating for disability-inclusive education: to learn from those who are experiencing different types of education is most important to develop good practices;
- Rehabilitation International is advocating for disability-inclusive universities and job trainings. Young people with disabilities know much better what the needs of students are and what kind of job young people with disabilities aim to be trained for;
- Rehabilitation International advocates for qualified rehabilitation for every person in need. It is obvious that rehabilitation programs for young people must be designed differently from those for adults and elderly people. If only the seniors decide on rehabilitation programs, they will never meet the needs of young people;
- Rehabilitation International advocates for disability inclusive societies. But what does this mean in relation to societal attitudes and norms and, in particular, for communication in social media. Only young people know what kind of problems are present and how to influence attitudes of the young generation;
- Rehabilitation international advocates for accessible and/or special forms of sports and leisure activities. Both are important aspects of life and must be shaped according to young person’s needs and wishes;
- Rehabilitation International advocates for barrier-free access to labor and employment. What does this mean for young people just entering professional life and what are important prerequisites to have a start into the job equally with others.
Of course, many other points could be added here.
It is of great strategic relevance to include the perspectives of young people with disabilities into all areas of RI’s work. On the one hand it will help RI to learn from young people with regard to societal and political developments, to shape its positions including the expectations of young people, to avoid working in an “old guys” bubble. The RI Youth Forum will be an inspiration and an engine to move forward. On the other hand, being part of RI will be a great opportunity for young people to involve in political and advocacy activities at an international level and in particular to be involved on decision making at the level of the United Nations and its agencies like UNESCO, WHO, ILO and others. Last but not least it is clear that the leaders of tomorrow are at present young people.
It is of great strategic relevance to include the perspectives of young people with disabilities into all areas of RI’s work. On the one hand it will help RI to learn from young people with regard to societal and political developments, to shape its positions including the expectations of young people, to avoid working in an “old guys” bubble. The RI Youth Forum will be an inspiration and an engine to move forward. On the other hand, being part of RI will be a great opportunity for young people to involve in political and advocacy activities at an international level and in particular to be involved on decision making at the level of the United Nations and its agencies like UNESCO, WHO, ILO and others. Last but not least it is clear that the leaders of tomorrow are at present young people.
Rehabilitation International invites young people with disabilities to join the RI Youth Forum. An active Youth Forum will be very important for all young person with disability worldwide. It will become a forum for young people with disabilities to communicate with peers all around the globe and it will be an opportunity to shape international policies for a better future of all persons with disabilities.
May 2025
Prof. Christoph Gutenbrunner MD, PhD, FRCP, SFEBPRM
RI President
