Aashna Parsa Policy Testimony, 2026 International Youth Conference (23K+ attendees, 141 countries) | Urges United Nations to make Neurodiversity & Disability Inclusion core pillars
- Aashna Parsa
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Watch 14 YO Aashna Parsa, Founder and President of Youth for Neurodiversity Inc., give policy testimony on May 22, 2026 at the 13th International Youth Conference (IYC13) toward the LA Pathway to Peace declaration to be presented by IYC to the United Nations.
With over 90K youth members worldwide, IYC is organized by the International Organization of Youth and is a global platform that unites youth leaders, policymakers, and diplomats for dynamic dialogue, capacity-building workshops, and actionable policy discussions.
IYC13 brought together young changemakers to advance peace, security, and multilateralism through youth-led action for a four-day international conference on May 20-24, 2026 at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Aashna Parsa was honored to be selected for policy testimony toward the LA Pathway to Peace Youth Declaration, and urged the United Nations to make strengths-based neurodiversity and disability inclusion, core pillars of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda and Global Youth Goals Framework.
"Nearly 1 in 5 young people are neurodivergent, have learning differences, or are differently-abled, yet we disproportionately face bullying, isolation, depression, and suicide risk. The greatest barrier to peace in our communities is not our differences—it is stigma, bullying, ableism, and exclusion...We must go beyond awareness and acceptance to real belonging. Because when we embrace every mind and every body, we don’t just create inclusion–we build lasting peace." [Scroll down for complete testimony]
Aashna's complete testimony below:
Nearly 1 in 5 young people are neurodivergent, have learning differences, or are differently-abled, yet we disproportionately face bullying, isolation, depression, and suicide risk. The greatest barrier to peace in our communities is not our differences—it is stigma, bullying, ableism, and exclusion.
Hello, I’m Aashna Parsa, founder of Youth for Neurodiversity, a grassroots international nonprofit bringing youth together to champion youth-centered inclusive policies and innovative technologies.
Growing up, my neurodivergent family, close friends, and I masked all our lives. Last summer, I was in an accident that severed my ulnar nerve. I lost mobility in my elbow and sensation in two fingers. Suddenly, I couldn’t swim, sketch, write, or code. When simple tasks became barriers and even accepting help felt like defeat–the experience taught me a powerful truth: differences are not deficits.--- whether they are visible or invisible.
Peace means true belonging—where every neurodivergent and differently-abled young person, with visible or invisible differences, feels safe, valued, and celebrated without having to mask or hide who they are.
At Youth for Neurodiversity, we celebrate differences, champion strengths, and build empathy through innovative assistive and education technologies. Our gamified app, Ally in Training™, uniquely turns allyship into an engaging adventure for both neurodivergent and neurotypical youth.
As a youth-led movement rooted in “Nothing About Us Without Us,” we urge the United Nations to make strengths-based neurodiversity and disability inclusion core pillars of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda and the Global Youth Goals Framework.
We must go beyond awareness and acceptance to real belonging. Because when we embrace every mind and every body, we don’t just create inclusion–we build lasting peace. Thank you!
