The Youth Action Project is a collaborative, youth-centered initiative designed to address a persistent gap in education and youth development: the lack of meaningful inclusion of Disabled and Neurodivergent youth in planning, decision-making, and problem-solving processes that directly affect their learning environments and communities. Through three pilot programs in distinct parts of the U.S. led by Social Optics, Transition Academy, and LiberatED, through a deeply participatory approach, this project generated actionable findings and a practical suite of resources, grounded in lived experience, that enable educators and youth workers to authentically center youth voice, foster agency, and support community-driven change in accessible ways.
Links to resources
Helping Learners Thrive: Lessons From Youth Leaders – LiberatED
Youth Action Project Curriculum – SocialOptics
Youth Project Framework for Students with IDD and Autism – The Transition Academy
“If They Would Just Listen”: What Students Are Teaching Us About Belonging and Voice – Getting Smart
Websites
The Transition Academy – The Transition Academy
LiberatED | Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) | Liberatory Practices
Home – International Youth Foundation
The Transition Academy: Overview | LinkedIn