Category: Workshop Recap:

On 2 January, we kicked off the year with the first session of our ongoing Capacity Building Webinar Series, focusing on Inclusive Education as a fundamental human right.

The session highlighted that inclusive education is not about fixing the child, but about removing barriers within education systems, communities, and attitudes. Strong emphasis was placed on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, especially Article 24, which calls for inclusive education at all levels.

We were privileged to learn from two powerful voices:

– Dr. Richard Rieser, General Secretary of CDPF UK, teacher, disabled activist, and global expert in inclusive education, who shared global experiences and practical examples of how inclusion works when systems change, not learners.

– Dr. Sruti Mohapatra, CEO of Swabhiman India, CDPF Vice Chair, and a leading disability rights and inclusive education expert, who reinforced the importance of community engagement, policy implementation, and leadership from persons with disabilities.

The webinar also demonstrated accessibility in practice, with sign language interpretation, captioning, and inclusive participation throughout the session. Discussions covered early childhood inclusion, community-based approaches, the role of teachers, parents, peers, and Disabled Persons Organisations in making education inclusive.

This first webinar of the year set a strong foundation for continued learning, collaboration, and advocacy. Thank you to our speakers and participants for making this session meaningful and impactful.

We wrapped up the second session of the Commonwealth Disabled Youth Forum Capacity Building Webinar Series, and we are really encouraged by how powerful the conversation turned out to be. Our theme was Unspoken Realities: Disability and Sexual, Reproductive Health, led by Mrs. Mushimiyimana Gaudence, Executive Director of UNABU and Chair of the CDPF Disabled Women Forum.

This is a topic that is often ignored, yet it affects the daily lives, safety, and dignity of young disabled people across the Commonwealth. The session opened space for honest discussion on the persistent gaps in access to SRHR, the myths that still silence many of us, and the barriers that keep disabled youth from making informed decisions about their bodies.

We talked about the real challenges: exclusion from information, inaccessible health facilities, untrained health workers, stereotypes in our communities, and the higher risks faced by women with disabilities. But we also highlighted opportunities for change. Inclusive policies, better training for health workers, accessible communication tools, community awareness, and programs that empower disabled youth to advocate for their rights.

Every person deserves safe, accessible, and respectful SRHR services. Today reminded us that empowerment grows when we create space for disabled youth to speak about realities that society often avoids.

CDYF will continue pushing these conversations forward. Our voices matter, our experiences matter, and our rights matter.