What Civic Engagement Means for Disability Inclusion

Published: Oct 22, 2025

Country: Tanzania

Rajab Mpilipili is a 2025 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston in partnership with the African Disability Forum (ADF). The following blog post was written by guest author Rajab.

As a 2025 Professional Fellow hosted by Disability Rights California (DRC), I have had the privilege of exploring civic engagement in the United States—and it has been eye opening. What stands out most is how civic participation here often begins at the local level and thrives through cross-sector coalitions. Whether it is voting, protesting, volunteering, attending town halls, or launching digital campaigns, people are actively shaping their communities.

What makes this work is the strong institutional support. Legal protections like the First Amendment and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensure that everyone—including people with disabilities—can participate fully. Civil society organizations and nonprofits play a major role in mobilizing citizens, and civic education starts early in schools. Inclusion is not just a goal—it is built into the system.

This experience has deepened my understanding of how civic engagement can drive disability inclusion back home in Tanzania. At Youth With Disabilities Organization (YoWDO), we have been advocating for youth with disabilities to be seen not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders. Representation matters—and civic engagement teaches us that leadership starts with having a seat at the table.

We have built platforms for youth with disabilities to speak up, shape policy, demand accountability, and access employment opportunities through the Yowdoconnect Portal, but we still face challenges. Tanzania’s Disability Act of 2010 has strong provisions, but enforcement is weak, and there is no monitoring mechanism like the ADA. That is why we are pushing for stronger laws; better implementation; and inclusive digital and finance, education, and employment policies.

One of the most powerful lessons I am taking home is the importance of cross-sector collaboration. In the US, I have seen how organizations like DRC work with government agencies, tech companies, and financial institutions to promote accessibility. In Tanzania, we are building similar coalitions with partners like Sightsavers Tanzania and the Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organizations (SHIVYAWATA) to strengthen our advocacy and expand our reach. As chairperson of Agenda Ya Vijana Consortium, I am proud to lead a coalition of eight youth-led organizations working together for change.

I have also learned how data and storytelling can drive policy. DRC uses research and personal narratives to influence public opinion and legislation. We are beginning to do the same documenting barriers and tracking progress in financial inclusion for youth with disabilities.

And then there are the moments that remind me why this work matters. As a blind Fellow, one of my favorite experiences was using an accessible ATM with audio instructions (Figure 1). For the first time, I withdrew money independently without needing assistance. That moment was more than a transaction. It was dignity, agency, and joy. It reminded me that disability is just a notion when accessibility is at work.

A man with earphones uses an ATM inside a supermarket. — Figure 1: Rajab withdraws money from an ATM using earphones.

I think my host has learned from my leadership, creativity, and resilience. Through YoWDO, We have built platforms for advocacy, shaped media narratives, and empowered youth to use social media not just for connection, but for self-expression and change. We have collaborated with employers to create pathways to independence and self-sufficiency for youth with disabilities.

Civic engagement is not just about politics, it is about inclusion, agency, and collective action. Learning from US models helps us build more inclusive societies, but adapting those strategies to our local context ensures sustainability (Figure 2). When youth with disabilities become civic actors, they transform from passive recipients to powerful change makers.

And that is the future we are building together.

A man wearing earphones holds a microphone while presenting in front of a screen displaying a PowerPoint slide. — Figure 2: Rajab presents his inclusive civic engagement project at the September 12 Program Orientation in Boston.