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‘Equal World?’ film toolkit

Be part of the discussion. Use the ‘Equal World?’ film toolkit to facilitate conversations and actions on the rights and demands of young people with disabilities.

On this page

On this page

Young people with disabilities must be included. They have the drive, passion and valuable lived experience to offer expertise to world leaders on the decisions that affect them.

By working with decision-makers, young people with disabilities can help find solutions to the world’s problems but face barriers in doing so, such as accessibility, attitudinal, educational and a lack of opportunities.

‘Equal World?’ follows disability advocate Abia Akram as she platforms the voices of three young people with disabilities to show their daily lives and talk about what is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an inclusive society.

The documentary has been filmed in the run-up to the Summit of the Future; a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all young people, particularly young people with disabilities, to have their say on what that future looks like and for their national and other global leaders to listen and act accordingly.

Watch the ‘Equal World?’ film below (21 minutes)

Want to host a screening?

Contact the Equal World team for permission to show the film and to tell us about your event.

Email us: [email protected]

How to use this toolkit

This toolkit has been co-produced by young people with disabilities and sets out the key questions that governments, parliamentarians and organisations of persons with disabilities need to consider when addressing the issues presented in the film.

If you’d like to host a film screening, please contact the Equal World team.

You can use this toolkit to facilitate discussions about the film at your own screening. It can also be used to shape forms that can capture individual responses outside of organised events. It can also be used outside of policy processes to encourage more general engagement with people with disabilities.

Young Voices

We’re calling for global decision-makers to include young people with disabilities in decisions that affect them.

About the campaign
By participating in decisions that impact them, young people give valuable insights that lead to relevant solutions.
Lydia
Photo: Lydia standing in front of a UN logo at the UN Civil Society Conference looking at the camera.

Discussion prompts for decision-makers, leaders, ministers and parliamentarians

1. What does the meaningful participation of young people with disabilities look like to you?

2. Can you provide an example of when you’ve implemented learnings shared by young people with disabilities and put them into practice?

3. What will you practically do to ensure young people with disabilities are involved equally within decision-making?

4. How do you ensure that the feedback and suggestions from young people with disabilities are integrated into the final decisions or policies?

5. How do you ensure that you are communicating with young people in an accessible way when asking for their input? Thinking about the experiences mentioned in the film, are there any further steps you could take to avoid excluding young people with disabilities?

6. How do you ensure that the outcomes of decisions made with input from young people with disabilities are communicated back to them in a meaningful way?

7. What data do you collect on the participation of young people with disabilities in your decision-making processes, and how can we leverage that to improve participation?

8. At the start of the film, disability rights advocate, Judith Heumann, said “your voices matter” as a message to young people with disabilities, how do you think you can enact that in your work?

9. What strategies could be implemented to ensure better collaboration between decision-making bodies and young people with disabilities?

10. What partnerships or collaborations do you have with organisations that advocate with young people with disabilities to enhance their participation in decision-making?

11. What is your vision for young people with disabilities in global decision-making over the next decade? How can we achieve this vision, and what immediate actions should be taken to move us closer to this?

Discussion prompts for young people

1. After watching ‘Equal World?’ what reflections do you have on the experiences of Basiru, Tapiwa and Taqwa?

2. How do you differentiate between meaningful engagement and tokenistic involvement?

3. What are the main barriers you face to engaging in decision-making processes?

4. Either from your experience or in your opinion, what does good engagement look like?

5. In your opinion or experience, what does bad engagement look like?

6. How can decision-makers better address the diverse needs and preferences of young people with disabilities to ensure inclusive participation?

7. How can decision-makers build trust and establish a genuine relationship with young people with disabilities?

8. What advice would you give to other young people with disabilities who are trying to get involved in decision-making processes?

9. What are some effective ways to provide feedback to decision-makers about the inclusivity and effectiveness of their engagement with young people with disabilities?

Inclusion means I have the same voice as someone without a disability, and to have my ideas and opinions included.
James
Photo: a portrait of James who is pointing at his t-shirt which reads 'Jimbo's accessible adventures'.

How this toolkit was created

In a series of consultations that took place in August 2024, a project team of young people with disabilities came together to discuss and determine the key questions that stakeholders need to consider when addressing the issues presented in the ‘Equal World?’ film.

Meet the team

Photo: Global Youth Champion Basiru smiles for the camera.

Basiru

Sierra Leone

Photo: Taqwa sat smiling in her wheelchair with her thumb raised. She wears a tshirt which reads

Taqwa

Pakistan

A photo of Tapiwa smiling for the camera

Tapiwa

Zimbabwe

Photo: Portrait of Kabery.

Kabery

Bangladesh

Photo: a portrait of James who is pointing at his t-shirt which reads 'Jimbo's accessible adventures'.

James

Ireland

Photo: Lydia standing in front of a UN logo at the UN Civil Society Conference looking at the camera.

Lydia

Kenya

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Want to hear more about the Equal World campaign?

A girl, who has albinism and is wearing glasses and a mask, sits in a classroom.
Eleven-year-old Noutene, who has albinism, attends an inclusive school in Mali.
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