Senior Diplomat Sara Minkara Calls Youth to Action

By Audrey Li

When discussing making the world a better place, youth are often at the forefront, driving change with passion and purpose. Recently, Together Towards Tomorrow spoke with Sara Minkara, US Department of State’s Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR), about the role youth can play in promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of our social and economic activities. 

A Lebanese-American activist and the founder of a nonprofit service organization, Empowerment Through Integration (ETI), Sara Minkara was appointed by President Biden in November 2021 to serve as the nation’s senior diplomat for disability rights. She leads the U.S. in promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities internationally.  Her journey from an NGO to the Executive Branch of the US government exemplifies the transformative potential of young people, especially those with disabilities, in shaping a more inclusive future.

Sara Minkara lost her eyesight because of an illness at the age of seven. Instead of allowing her blindness to limit her, she used her fight against blindness as a source of strength and inspiration. Having traveled and interacted with children in Lebanon, she realized many children with disabilities around the world lacked opportunities she had for empowerment and visibility. This insight drove her to establish ETI. Through this NGO, she advocated for including persons with disabilities in all elements of our society. Now, a senior appointee in the Biden Administration, she influences the US government’s policy-making on disability fueling broader societal change around the world.

Minkara’s work has centered around the integration of disability into all conversations about our society and our future. She emphasizes that young people with disabilities should be at the heart of these discussions, integrating disability considerations into all policy discussions. Her efforts aim to shift disability from a niche concern to a mainstream issue. For example, she argues that disability policy should not only be limited to those officials who are concerned with education, vocational training, and employment equality.  Instead, all government agencies should examine their priorities through the disability lens. “Disabilities, in so many ways, have been very much approached from a social protection lens, if you travel the world, most of the time disabilities are pigeon-holed within the Ministry of Social Affairs and or Ministry of Labor. But how much are we taking the disability conversation into the other lenses, whether it's energy, environment, economy, digital technology, all these different issues?” 

Data supports her view that we should normalize and mainstream disability in our lives. According to the WHO, 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability. In the United States, according to the CDC, 26% of adults and about 5% of those under the age of 18 live with a disability. When disability impacts such a high percentage of people around us, it is surprising that disability has not been discussed more often in making public policies.  

The lack of awareness of the needs of those among us with disabilities creates barriers for persons with disabilities. Youth people with disabilities face more systematic barriers today than ever due to the advances in technologies that exclude persons with disabilities. Minkara provides an example: "A lot of us use Instagram… As a blind person, Instagram is not as accessible as for someone sighted. If I’m not able to communicate the way I want, my voice isn’t fully heard." Technological and communication barriers can prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in social and political conversations, further perpetuating their exclusion.  

Minkara notes that this systemic exclusion has broader implications for inclusivity. "Events without sign language interpreters mean persons who are deaf or hard of hearing can’t fully participate. If they’re not there, their voices aren’t heard, and governments aren’t considering us. It’s a vicious cycle."

(Left to right) Amelia Cho, Deputy Director; SAIDR Sara Minkara; Audrey Li, Executive Director

Despite these challenges, Minkara remains optimistic and driven by her objectives. During a recent trip to Singapore, she led a training session for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat. This session successfully integrated disability considerations into their policy framework, demonstrating the impact of her advocacy. "We showed how disability should be part of their efforts, and now they’re working on a disability policy brief. That moment was incredible," she said. Such experiences highlight the potential for young leaders to create meaningful, widespread change by simply embracing the inclusion of persons with disabilities in daily work and life.

For young people eager to make a difference, Minkara offers practical advice: "Make sure the people you're serving [such as those with disabilities] are part of your organization and your leadership. If there’s an advisory board, include them." This approach ensures that solutions are not only inclusive but also effective, reflecting the needs and perspectives of those directly impacted.

SAIDR Minkara’s message to youth with disabilities is both inspiring and empowering: “You belong at the table. You deserve to be heard. And together, we can build a world where everyone’s voice is valued.” Her call to action underscores that young people are the driving force behind a more inclusive and equitable future. Together Towards Tomorrow hopes that by embracing our role as advocates and leaders, every young person, regardless of their ability, can contribute to a world where everyone has the opportunity to excel.

Audrey Li is the Founder and Executive Director of Together Towards Tomorrow.