OUR STORIES: How Youth with Disabilities are Changing the World of Work - Side Event at COSP15

Side Event at the 15th COSP, 15 June 2022
Our Stories: How Youth with Disabilities are Changing the World of Work

785 million persons with disabilities worldwide are of working age, with 64% of them across age groups unemployed. Discriminatory hiring practices, underpayment, a mismatch in skills training, and inaccessible workplaces compounded by lack of reasonable accommodation are just a few barriers young persons with disabilities experience when entering the labour market. This exclusion from work is a major barrier to decent and independent living in inclusive societies. And yet, youth with disabilities along with their representative organisations, create change towards more inclusive and accessible employment on a daily basis. This Side Event gives the floor to them to interactively share their lived experiences with participants.

The Side Event follows a storytelling approach. The objective of the format is to allow more direct exchange between speakers and their audience, supporting listeners to understand the role of young persons with disabilities and the real impact of economic empowerment.

The event will take place online through Zoom. Simultaneous ISL interpretation and CART in all breakout rooms and in the plenary, provided by Light for the World.