The first event in our monthly series creates an important closed space for disabled youth to come together, organically share their own insights and experiences, and co-develop a series of documents intended to guide future collective action. Following roundtable introductions allowing youth to connect with their peers, a guided discussion asks participants to explore what community means to them, and how they connect to community.

Following a brief break, participants reconvene for an interactive and high-energy policy jam – where youth priorities, insights, and experiences take center stage. Using live note-taking, participants collaborate to develop a list of the most pressing issues disabled youth currently face. Building momentum, participants are then invited to reflect on how the wider movement has (or has not!) engaged with them as disabled youth to develop a list of best practices disability organizations must keep in mind to meaningfully engage youth in the wider disability rights movement. Finally, youth come together to develop a powerful Call to Action for the wider disability movement – that will act as a tangible advocacy tool long after the Institute concludes.

To ensure all participants are equally able to participate in this hands-on exercise, attendance will prioritize youth (18-36) with lived experience of disability. If interest far exceeds the number of available slots, we will host a second policy jam to accommodate more youth perspectives.