What does radical inclusion really look like – and what would change if dignity, access and belonging were built into our systems from the start?
Marking the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this episode of Our World, Connected explores how societies can move beyond charity and good intentions towards a rights-based approach to disability inclusion – one that centres listening, participation, and meaningful action.
Host Christine Wilson is joined on this episode by Nada Ehab, a youth development specialist and advisor to the British Council’s Inclusive Youth Empowerment Programme in Egypt. Nada reflects on her journey from empathy-driven inclusion to a collective rights-based, participatory model, and shares insights from her work supporting young people with disabilities to engage in advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and community-led change. Together, they discuss the barriers that still exist in education, public spaces and digital environments, and why inclusion must be embedded across systems, not treated as a quota.
We also hear a personal story from Saja Mohammed Alkadhimi, a 19-year-old student from Baghdad, UN Youth Advisory Council member, and disability rights advocate. Saja shares her experiences navigating education as a wheelchair user, the importance of accessible infrastructure, and why inclusive schools matter not just for learning, but for belonging. Her story brings the conversation to life, reminding us that inclusion is about unlocking potential, not lowering expectations.
From education and policy to technology and leadership, this episode asks how we turn conversations about inclusion into concrete change - and why the responsibility for removing barriers must sit with society as a whole.
Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.
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Additional Resources:
Beyond inclusion: what Next Generation research reveals about disability and youth leadership
The British Council’s Disability Inclusion Community Steering Group
Breaking Barriers: Advancing Inclusive Education, Arts, and Youth Empowerment in Jordan
Disability Arts | British Council Arts
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