People with disabilities still face exclusion and unfair treatment. Discover how you can support accessibility, inclusion, and equal rights for all.
Chaeli Mycroft is a disability rights advocate, social justice leader and author of the books Unapologetically Able and Tuko Pamoja – We Are Together (launching in 2025). Born with cerebral palsy and a lifelong wheelchair user, Chaeli began her activism journey at the age of nine when she co-founded The Chaeli Campaign, originally created to raise funds for her first motorised wheelchair. The organisation has since grown into a non-profit that promotes inclusion and disability rights collectively impacting around 9,000 people annually. Chaeli is deeply committed to empowering disabled people to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to society. A passionate adaptive athlete, Chaeli has been a wheelchair dancer for 15 years and has participated in the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Comrades Marathon, where she became the first wheelchair athlete to complete the 89km race. In 2015, she made history as the first female quadriplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. She has received multiple honours for her advocacy work, including the Forbes Woman Africa Young Achievers Award, World of Children Youth Hero Award, Obama Foundation African Leader recognition, the Medal for Social Activism from the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and the International Children’s Peace Prize, presented by Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire
Karwan Moamin is a senior project coordinator at the Halabja Disabled Organization (HDO), where he oversees the planning, implementation, and monitoring of initiatives that support and empower people with disabilities. He has organized and led the “Yes We Can Platform”, a program that offers training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for individuals with disabilities seeking to start their own businesses or projects. As a disability activist with lived experience and a member of Iraqi National Youth Team for People with Disabilities, Karwan actively participates in campaigns and workshops promoting the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. He has conducted research on the specific needs of the disability community in Halabja and provided actionable recommendations for local advocacy and development efforts. Karwan holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Halabja and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English Language Teaching in Iran. He has taught English to diverse learners, represented Halabja University in China, and holds certifications in NLP, leadership, and tutoring techniques.
Nadia Kendall brings together her background in law and her passion for social justice. As the Director for Be Human asbl, she focuses on empowering women and underrepresented groups, and her dedication to social justice and inclusion earned her the 2024 Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Youth Peace Worker. Alongside coordinating PowHer Leadership Program, she also co-created the Hidden Disability Hub whereby young people with hidden disabilities in Luxembourg receive support by way of community building, connecting them with opportunities in the workforce, and providing rights-based education.
Sylvain Obedi is a climate justice and disability rights activist, focused on promoting the participation and inclusion of youth with disabilities in all aspects of society. He is a Kofi Annan Changemaker and the Co-founder and Executive Director of Enable the Disable Action (EDA) which aims to create a DRC where people with disabilities can live dignified and independent lives.
Sylvain holds a degree in public law from the University of Peace of the DRC (UNIP-DRC) and an international certificate in public policy and leadership from the American Foundation of the ITC University.
Since 2017, he has been an active member of the Africa Youth Movement, serving as Human Rights Officer for its DRC Hub. He currently collaborates with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data to promote equitable data use and amplify underrepresented voices. Sylvain is also a member of several initiatives, including the Global Caucus of Young People with Disabilities, the United Nations Human Rights Youth Advisory Council and Education Above All, UNODC’s Advisory Council on Integrity of YouthLED, UN Women’s Generation Equality Youth Task Force and SFCG’s Just Future Youth Advocacy Network.
Marina Roxana Corneliu is a disability rights advocate, activist, and project manager based in Bucharest, Romania, committed to building inclusive spaces through education, advocacy, and creative therapies. She leads a pioneering pilot project in inclusive education, combining awareness campaigns, sociological research on disability inclusion, and a national festival promoting accessibility.
Living with hearing loss, dyslexia, and ADHD, and as a caregiver to her chronically ill mother, Marina brings deep personal insight into the challenges of both visible and invisible disabilities. Her work focuses on shifting public perceptions, empowering disabled individuals, and promoting healing through non-formal education, art, and music therapy.
Marina is particularly dedicated to mentoring future leaders in inclusive education and establishing vocational pathways centered on therapy and creativity. Her advocacy is rooted in her own experiences growing up in Romania, navigating socio-economic hardship, bullying, and mental health struggles.
Hilda Macheso is a dedicated human rights advocate from Malawi, with a strong focus on disability rights. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the University of Malawi and currently serves as a Project Coordinator at the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM), a non-governmental organization that champions the rights and protection of persons with albinism. In addition to her professional role, Hilda continues to volunteer with APAM, deepening her commitment to inclusivity and social justice.
Hilda represents persons with disabilities in the 3rd SADC Youth Parliament, where she contributes to regional policy discussions and advocacy efforts. She is also a member of the European Union Malawi Youth Sounding Board, a group of 15 youth advisors supporting the EU Delegation in making its cooperation policy more inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the needs of young people in Malawi.
Her work reflects a deep commitment to advocacy, equity, and improving the lives of marginalized communities across Malawi and the Southern African region.
Amy Marks is a Melbourne-based video editor, producer, scriptwriter, and disability rights advocate with over a decade of experience in digital media production. She uses her creative skills to craft accessible, engaging content across formats—from short films and live event coverage to educational resources and social campaigns. In 2023, she directed, co-wrote, and co-produced her first funded short film, with nearly 50% of the cast and crew identifying as disabled.
As a strong advocate for disability inclusion in the screen industry, Amy has spoken at national and international forums, including TEDx, the ACMI Being Seen on Screen Conference, and the National Australian Disability Strategy Forum. Her advocacy work also includes media consulting, accessibility reviewing, and contributing to public discussions on disability representation.
Amy has held key roles with Children and Young People with Disability Australia, YLab, and the Youth Disability Advocacy Service, co-designing and facilitating leadership programs that empower young disabled people to lead projects, shape policy, and build capacity. Her work bridges creative production and advocacy, with a focus on inclusion, access, and social change.
Ayodele Rebecca Olatunji is a Sign Language Educator, Disability Inclusion Specialist, and advocate for Deaf rights in Nigeria. As the child and sibling of Deaf adults, her lived experience fuels her passion for promoting accessible, inclusive environments and advancing the linguistic and cultural identity of the Deaf community. She is the founder of Champions of Deaf Awareness and Humanity Initiative, through which she has trained over 10,000 individuals in sign language and led major awareness campaigns. Ayodele also convenes the Signers Connect Community, a pan-African network offering sign language training and mentorship.
She is currently leading a national campaign for the official recognition of Nigerian Sign Language as one of the country’s national languages. Internationally, Ayodele serves as a Grant Advisor with The Pollination Project USA, hosts the Diversity, Disability, and Inclusion Impact Field within the Bosch Alumni Network, and is an alumna of several programs including Theirworld Global Youth Ambassador, KECTIL, FATE Foundation, and Bridge for Billions. Her work has earned multiple honors, including the Opportunity Desk Impact Award, 30 Under 30 OD Changemakers, and the Hearing Icon Award. Ayodele continues to champion equity, access, and representation across Deaf and hearing communities.
Khansa Maria is a disability rights advocate, accessibility consultant, and Rhodes Scholar from Pakistan. She is the founder of Hope for Tomorrow in Pakistan, a youth-led initiative she launched in 2016 to combat stigmas surrounding disability and equip disabled individuals with the skills and tools needed to build better futures. The organization has offered professional development courses and led educational social media campaigns to promote inclusion and awareness.
Born visually impaired, Khansa has made a significant impact in the field of disability advocacy. She was awarded the 2020 Lena Landegger Community Service Award and has delivered compelling talks on disability rights and equity, including a TEDx talk in which she challenged societal perceptions and advocated for breaking down barriers for people with disabilities.
Khansa holds an undergraduate degree from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford, where she focused on evidence-based policy and social justice.
Lois Auta is a creative business executive, disability inclusion expert, and global changemaker with a strong track record of developing strategic initiatives in both startups and growth organizations. She is the Founder and CEO of the Network of Women with Disabilities, leading global empowerment programs for women and girls with disabilities.
Lois is also the founder of Cedar Seed Foundation, E-Ability Platform, Women on Wheels Cooperative, and Disabled People in Leadership Initiative. She was part of Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 and is a member of the Presidential High-Level Advisory Council on Women and Girls with Disabilities. In 2017, she became the first Black woman with a disability named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. In 2019, she broke barriers as the first woman with a disability to run for Nigeria’s House of Representatives among 4,080 candidates.
Her work has been featured by the UN, BBC, Al Jazeera, VOA, Global Citizen, and more. A polio survivor and wheelchair user, Lois has met numerous world leaders and continues to inspire globally as a motivational speaker and award-winning advocate.
