Inclusive youth participation webinars - Webinar 4: Democratic participation of young people with intellectual disabilities

Webinar #4: Democratic Participation of Young People with Intellectual Disabilities

What does it mean for young people with intellectual disabilities to actively participate in democratic life? What barriers limit their engagement - and how can youth work and European programmes create meaningful, accessible opportunities for participation?

Young people with intellectual disabilities often face specific challenges in democratic participation, including inaccessible information, communication barriers, lack of adapted methodologies, and limited opportunities to influence decision-making processes. At the same time, many inspiring practices demonstrate how participation can be made more inclusive, accessible, and empowering. This webinar will explore both the barriers and practical approaches to support meaningful participation.

About this webinar series:

SALTO Inclusion & Diversity and SALTO Participation & Information are joining forces to deliver a webinar series on democratic participation of young people with fewer opportunities. Through an intersectional approach, each session highlights how youth work can support inclusion, empower young people, and strengthen their role in decision-making.

Each webinar includes input from experts, practical case studies, and tools that participants can use in their work within Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects - and beyond.

What do we mean by democratic participation?

The Youth Participation Strategy defines democratic participation as:
Young people having the right, the means, the space, the opportunity and, where necessary, the support to freely express their views, contribute to and influence decision-making, and take part in civic and democratic life.

In practice, this can include:

• Co-designing projects and activities
• Participating in youth councils or consultations
• Engaging in advocacy and community initiatives
• Using creative and accessible tools to express views
• Taking part in dialogue with decision-makers
• Contributing to shared decision-making processes

Democratic participation also happens in everyday youth work, when young people are supported to make choices, express opinions, and influence their environment in ways that are accessible and meaningful to them.

What to expect from this webinar?

The webinar will include a keynote input from an expert on inclusive participation, followed by breakout sessions featuring practical examples and tools to support the participation of young people with intellectual disabilities.

Participants will have the opportunity to exchange experiences, reflect on their practice, and explore concrete approaches they can apply in their own contexts.

Programme:

• 13:00 Opening & welcome
• 13:10 Keynote input by Sandra Marques, Self-Advocacy Expert at Inclusion Europe.
• 13:55 Mini-break
• 14:00 Good practices (breakout rooms):
  • Practice 1: Elisabeth Gudenus, Project Manager at EU For Trisomy 21
  • Practice 2: TBC
  • Practice 3: TBC
• 14:45 Reporting back & discussion
• 15:00 Closing

Who is this for?

This webinar is open to a wide audience, including:

• Youth workers, trainers, and educators
• Staff of youth organisations and NGOs
• Policymakers and decision-makers
• Researchers and experts
• Anyone interested in inclusive democratic participation

Whether you work within Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, or related fields, this webinar offers practical insights and inspiration.

How to join?

Register via this link.

Registrations will close 1 hour before the start of the webinar (7 May, 12:00 CET).

Participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum capacity of 300 participants.

Inclusion and Accessibility Measures

We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can participate meaningfully:

• We practice zero tolerance for discriminatory language or behaviour
• Our facilitators are experienced in inclusion and diversity
• You are free to participate with or without your camera on
• Different forms of participation (chat, reactions, speaking) are equally valued
• The keynote session will be recorded (breakout rooms will not)

To further support accessibility:

• Automated captions will be enabled
• The agenda will be clearly introduced at the start
• We will work in small groups for safer exchange
• Simple language is encouraged - no need for “perfect English”
• A short break will be included

Furthermore, presentation materials can be shared in advance upon request, particularly to support participants who are neurodivergent or have disabilities. Please indicate this in the registration form if you would like to receive them.