Empowering Young People to Champion Neuro-Inclusion

Aamir Khan’s recent film Sitaare Zameen Par has brought neurodiversity into the mainstream, and sparked important conversations about inclusion and rethinking what we consider ‘normal’. These cultural moments help raise awareness, but they also remind us that there is still a long way to go in making inclusion a lived reality. 

It is estimated that 1 in 8 children in India have a neurodevelopmental condition such as ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and intellectual disability. Many of these children often face social isolation, bullying and exclusion – often the earliest of these experiences begin during school. 

At the same time, today’s young people indeed carry with them a deep sense of social justice and openness to diversity. The energy, empathy and bold creativity of young people can be harnessed – if nurtured in the right way, at the right time – to make them equal partners in cultivating inclusive cultures in schools and communities. 

We need young allies – people who are not only informed, but who engage meaningfully with neurodivergent peers, actively support the cause, and drive inclusivity. The key lies in equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and ultimately the mindset needed for inclusion. Schools must invest in nurturing young allies who can champion neurodiversity and take ownership of inclusion in spaces they belong to. 

Our experience and work on youth allyship has shaped our understanding of what it takes to make this happen. Here are some of our most important insights: 

• From awareness to active allyship: We need to move beyond awareness about neurodiversity, by equipping students with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and opportunities to take meaningful action as allies for neuro-inclusion.
• A personalised journey: Allyship is a lifelong journey which is most authentic when it grows organically from curiosity, dialogue, self-initiative and experiences. It cannot be imposed, and must be led by the individual.
• Student autonomy: When students have the autonomy to choose how they contribute, their commitment deepens. We should give students a mix of structure and freedom to help – guidance to shape their efforts, alongside the space to decide how they want to step up for meaningful change.

So how can schools nurture students as young allies? 

1. Create safe, relatable spaces led by students, for students Peer-led conversations give students space to reflect on diversity, challenge stereotypes, and share personal experiences. When peers lead, the power dynamics shift – students listen more openly, express without fear of judgment, and begin to see inclusion as something that belongs to them, not just a directive from authority figures. Our Inclusive Duniya Circles are one example of such spaces. Students are primed and empowered to sensitively facilitate conversations about disability, neurodiversity and inclusion.
2. Explore connections to students’ interests and strengths
   Students should be given the opportunity to discover how they feel about the cause and how they want to contribute. At the end of each Circle, we often ask, “How do you want to step up for an Inclusive Duniya?” The answers vary, but what matters most is that the initiative comes from the students themselves. Our role as adults and educators is to support them in making it happen.

Some take the route of advocacy – sparking conversations and campaigning for the cause with schoolmates. Others channel creativity through music, art, or theatre that challenges stereotypes.

For instance, the song Inclusive Duniya (available on Spotify), was written, composed and produced by students on their own from carefully crafting lyrics which invited listeners to imagine a world where everyone feels like they belong to picking melodies that convey warmth. Students used their creative talents to make a gentle but compelling call to action for allyship. Helping students tap into their personal strengths and interests enables authentic engagement and contribution to the cause.

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3. Embed into academic and co-curricular pathways
   Linking students’ inclusion initiatives and projects to existing academic opportunities, such as CAS projects in the IB curriculum, allows them to merge personal passion with academic commitment. Framing these initiatives as co-curricular activities also strengthens students’ profiles for college applications. This dual recognition provides a formal recognition to their efforts and ensures students’ efforts are sustained – adding motivation, depth and commitment to their efforts.

The voices of young people not only impact their peers, but also have a ripple effect in shaping how families talk about disabilities, and, in due course, how communities and workplaces open themselves up to inclusion. 

With the right support, our young generation can become a driving force for an inclusive world. Schools, as microcosms of society, provide the most conducive space for young people to explore sensitive concepts, question biases, and practice inclusion in meaningful ways. By nurturing young allies who truly value and celebrate diverse ways of thinking and being, we can lay the foundation for a more Inclusive Duniya. 

This article is co-authored by: 

Pooja Sharma, Founder and CEO, Inclusive Duniya

Srushti Patel, Manager- Schools Programme, Inclusive Duniya