Youth with disabilities often face marginalization and severe social, economic, and civic disparities as compared with those without disabilities due to a range of factors from stigma to inaccessible environments. As countries look towards the post-2015 era to ensure poverty reduction and equitable development, it is essential to ensure that all youth have equal opportunities to become productive and contributing members of their society and enjoy all rights and privileges of citizenship, including youth with disabilities.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Estimates suggest that there are between 180 and 220 million youth with disabilities worldwide and nearly 80% of them live in developing countries.

• The unemployment rate of persons with disabilities is over 80% in some countries across continents.

• Youth with disabilities face dual disadvantages as individuals with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty even in developed countries such as the United States.

• Children with disabilities have lower probability of entering school as well as staying and advancing in school as children without disabilities.