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International Networking Site for Disabled Youth Launch

We would like to congratulate one of our Sisters of Frida, Zara Todd,  for the launch of a website for young disabled people from across the world with the aim of connecting them.

International Network for Disabled Youth, known as “INDYspace” (www.indyspace.org), an online network dedicated to connecting young disabled people aged 16-30 from around the world, has been officially launched.

The website, funded by Oxfam Australia through their Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP) programme, is the first of its kind in bringing young disabled people together on a global level. It enables users to sign up and share their experiences through the posting of blogs, pictures and videos, as well as providing information on a range of relevant topics including disability rights, independent living, travel and transport, and inclusion and accessibility, acting as both a network and an information base to which users can contribute. It is hoped that in the long-term, the site can provide informative, user-run webinars and interactive online video conferences. There is a strong dedication to making the site both ascetic and accessible to its users, with recommendations given by a web accessibility consultant currently being implemented.

The founders of the website, Erin Gough from New Zealand and Zara Todd from the United Kingdom, who first met at an Oxfam international youth conference two years ago, embody the site mission of enabling young disabled people to work together across borders, constructing the site from opposite sides of the globe.

Zara and Erin

When asked why the pair created the website, Zara Todd commented “We saw that there was a gap , online and literally within the international sector for young disabled people to connect to one another. We wanted a way for young disabled people to all become stronger, to enable them to find solutions together to the barriers that they face as young disabled people, regardless of what country they’re in.” Erin Gough added that the site was “made by young disabled people, for young disabled people” and that she hoped users would take the opportunity to both use and share the site, as “the more of a global force we are, the more global change will be created”.

One response to “International Networking Site for Disabled Youth Launch”

  1. Eleanor Firman says:

    An internationalist youth disabled movement can lead the world. Congratulations and good luck to Erin and Zara.

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