This December 3rd, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re reminded that inclusion is not just about access – it’s also about how we speak, listen, and create spaces where everyone feels seen.

In the Unity CERV Project, our work focuses on reducing hate speech and strengthening youth resilience across Europe. But discrimination doesn’t always appear in the form of explicit hostility. For many young people with disabilities, it shows up as subtle exclusion, assumptions, jokes, or language that reduces their experience to stereotypes.

Online, these patterns spread quickly. A single comment can silence participation; an “innocent” meme can reinforce stigma; inaccessible communication can push people out of the conversation entirely.

Throughout the UNITY project, we continue working with youth, educators, and organisations to build communities where difference is not a barrier but a source of strength – where belonging is practiced, not just discussed.

Because inclusion is not just policy. It’s language, attitude, and daily choices.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held.