International Youth Day is August 12th

In honor of International Youth Day, here are five ways to empower youth with disabilities.

August 6, 2026
August, Events

Half of the world’s population is under the age of 30, and that number is expected to reach 57% by the end of 2030.

In other words: Young people have tremendous potential to shape the future. Now more than ever, we need to create opportunities that help young people reach their full potential.

But for young people with disabilities — and especially young women with disabilities — barriers to education and employment can make those opportunities harder to access.

As a result, young people with disabilities remain underrepresented in higher education and the global workforce, according to the United Nations.

International Youth Day, which is celebrated every year on August 12, helps shine a light on these disparities and the programs and partnerships that are helping to close the gap.

In this article, we’ll share some creative ways you can get involved. But first, let’s take a look at how International Youth Day got its start.

History of International Youth Day

International Youth Day (IYD) was first observed by the United Nations in 2000. Its purpose is to call attention to social and political issues that matter to youth and to amplify their voices in conversations about the future.

Each year, International Youth Day focuses on a specific theme shaped by input from youth around the world. Past years’ themes have included education, food systems, climate resilience, and digital inclusion.

This year’s theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.” It’s all about the idea that young people worldwide share the same basic goals like dignity and meaningful employment no matter where they live.

5 ways to celebrate International Youth Day

1. Learn about closing the opportunity gap

From transition services to inclusive college and employment initiatives, there’s a growing movement to support young people with disabilities as they move into adulthood. These programs and approaches are helping to close the opportunity gap, but they don’t always get the attention they deserve.

This August, spend a few minutes learning about what’s working, then share what you’ve learned with someone else.

Here are a few great places to start:

Project SEARCH: Connecting youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities to career development and internship opportunities

Think College: Supporting students with intellectual disabilities in postsecondary education.

NDI: Financial empowerment resources for people with disabilities.

2. Become a mentor (formally or informally)

Becoming a mentor is one of the most meaningful ways you can support youth with disabilities. You don’t need a fancy title. All you have to do is show up.

Check if your local schools or universities have a mentoring program you can join. Or, offer guidance to a young person in your network, whether that’s reviewing a resume or sharing tips for advancing their career path.

3. Write to your lawmakers

Your voice matters. Use it to ask your representatives to support inclusive policies like education funding, transition services, and job training programs that help level the playing field for young people.

If you’re not sure where to start, check out advocacy sites like The Arc and ANCOR that offer pre-made templates you can personalize with details about why the issue matters to you.

4. Amplify young disability advocates

One of the best ways to support youth with disabilities is to amplify their voices.

Spend some time getting to know young disability advocates like Isabel Mavrides-Calderón (@powerfullyisa) and Teona Studemire (@teonawrites). Then, be sure to like, follow, and share their posts or videos to help more people hear what they have to say.

5. Advocate for inclusion

A big part of making schools and workplaces more inclusive is making sure that accessibility is the default, not the exception.

Next time you sign up for a class or register for a webinar, ask if it offers captions, ASL, or wheelchair access. If it doesn’t, suggest the organizers offer these accommodations.

Download the free Disability Events calendar

Want to stay connected and support disability inclusion beyond International Youth Day? Download our free Disability Events Calendar to discover more ways to get involved throughout the year.