What is NYLN?
A youth-led, youth-run national
organization that serves as a
voice for and network of young
leaders with disabilities.
Our members are youth and
young adults with disabilities
(age 16-28) and allies (siblings,
friends, parents, teachers, etc.).
You can register to be an NYLN
member at www.nyln.org. As a
member you will get great info
and be connected to other
young leaders and allies around
the country.
IMAGE: Picture of the NYLN logo. It
has a hand imprint on it, and it reads:
National Youth Leadership Network.
Beliefs of Popular
Education
Everyone’s experiences
are important.
Everyone is BOTH a
teacher and a learner.
Everything we need to
know we can learn from
the people and world
around us.
Popular education was started in
Brazil. The Spanish definition
means “education of the people.”
This approach shifts power of
learning/teaching from one
lecturer to the whole group
teaching itself.
People-driven focus means it is
used a lot in social-change work.
It is good for youth with
disabilities because it uses
different learning styles.
Facilitators play an important
role. Facilitation responsibilities
usually rotate.
Examples of Popular
Education Tools
Story Circles
Body Movement Activities
Song/Music/Poetry
Writing
All of these are done in Safe Space!
IMAGE: A man moves freely
to express himself.
What is Safe Space?
Questions to ask yourself:
IMAGE: A girl feeling
calm.
What do you need to be physically in a space?
What do you need to be included and to contribute?
What do you need to be your whole, beautiful, best
self?
How can we build a space where everyone has that
together?
How can we make space accessible?
What Do We Need
in a Space?
Safe Space begins with accessibility:
IMAGE: A student
using Braille.
Accessibility means how easy something is to use. It
can be related to disability (like wheelchair
accessibility).
Some accommodations for people with disabilities:
•
•
•
•
Braille or large print
Sign language interpreters
Ramps and elevators
Scent-free spaces
Accessibility Guidelines
Other needs may be:
Time alone/quiet space or extra time
Use of different learning styles
Language translation services
Being careful about “triggers”
Room for personal care attendants
Planning to have programs near each other for
people who get tired
• Mentorship for people new to a space
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stipends [money for participating], childcare, food, no-hate
safe space, trigger warnings, transportation, direct support
What Else Does Safe
Space Provide Us?
Accessibility also goes beyond
disability needs.
All people need things to
participate. Thinking and talking
about accessibility makes it so
everyone can participate. It
shows that everyone is valuable
and has a voice that should be
heard.
IMAGE: A woman sitting
in a wheelchair
kissing a child on the
forehead.
Details of Popular
Education Tools:
IMAGE: People are
sitting in a circle
telling each other their
stories.
Use a story circle:
People divide up into small groups. Each person
has 3 minutes to answer a question. Sometimes
it’s called a “prompt.”
The prompt might be: What is a time you were
discriminated against?
After everyone tells their stories, the facilitator
helps weave the stories together with the larger
group.
People can see things that we have in common
and can talk about how discrimination works.
IMAGE: An artistic picture
of two people learning.
Explanation of Story
Circle Activity
The story circle activity gets people thinking about their
personal experiences. Then everyone can see how they
are associated with each other and feel connected to a
larger group.
Maybe they could have reached the same conclusion by
someone explaining discrimination. But this way is more
powerful because everyone has a chance to connect
different stories to his/her own life.
This way can also be more accessible than someone
lecturing because different learning styles are included.
Questions Popular Education
Thinks About:
What do you need to be physically
in a space?
What do you need to be included
and contributing?
What do you need to be your
whole beautiful best self?
How can we build a space where
everyone has that? Together?
IMAGE: People
standing in a circle
and holding hands.
Some people are
standing on a cliff,
others are in the sky.
For more information, or to
become a member, contact us:
National Youth Leadership
Network (NYLN)
www.nyln.org
1-866-480-6565