For our Asia-Pacific members, the World Congress in Sharjah was more than an event. It was a reunion.

After years of remote meetings, more than 100 representatives from across the region came together to reconnect, share experiences, and strengthen our movement for inclusion.

A highlight for us was meeting members face to face.

Stephanie Gotlib, Regional Representative, Asia-Pacific

Stephanie Gotlib said, “Asia-Pacific members have not been able to do this since the last World Congress in Birmingham. We had over 100 representatives from the Asia Pacific attend the Congress.”

Stephanie is a long-time disability advocate and parent of an adult son with intellectual disability. She now works with Shiva Shrestha as a link between the Inclusion International Council and members in the Asia-Pacific region.

Highlights from Asia-Pacific members

The chance to gather in person created space for powerful discussions and new energy across the region.

One standout moment for Stephanie was hearing Yu-Cheng Tseng, a self-advocate from Inclusion Taiwan, speak during the session Keys to Living a Quality Life in an Inclusive Community.

“His presentation was incredibly powerful,” she said. “He shared his own experience, but also highlighted how everyone should have support to live where and with whom they choose. It also showed how strong an organisation PAPID Taiwan is in advocating for support for people with intellectual disability.”

Everyone should have support to live where and with whom they choose.

Stephanie Gotlib, Regional Representative, Asia-Pacific

Stephanie also hosted a session on people with complex disabilities and little or no speech.

“It is exciting that a working group at Inclusion International will be established to advocate for the inclusion of the people concerned in the disability rights movement,” she said.

Yu-Cheng Tseng presents on his experience as a self-advocate highlighting how everyone should have support to live where and with whom you want.

Shiva Shrestha, who works alongside Stephanie as Asia-Pacific Regional Representative, also shared his reflections. His advocacy focuses on education, health, and employment, and he works to strengthen the voices of self-advocates across the world.

Meeting people face to face and having the chance to network and find resources for the future was one of the most important opportunities.

Shiva Shrestha, Regional Representative, Asia-Pacific

For Shiva, the session on easy-to-read communication stood out. “It was exciting,” he said. “The presentation on employment was also interesting, especially seeing that the Nepal’s model is similar to what other countries are doing.”

Challenges and opportunities in the region

The representatives agreed that the region’s size, diversity, and limited resources remain key challenges.

“Language barriers and very limited resources continue to be issues,” said Shiva.

But the Congress also showed what’s possible.

To Shiva, “meeting people face to face and having the chance to network and find resources for the future was one of the most important opportunities”.

Stephanie added, “Maintaining and building on the momentum for connection and the desire to work together, which was established at the World Congress, is key.”

A message to the region

“Thank you to all who participated in the World Congress,” said Stephanie. “We, as regional representatives, are very committed to following up on the issues raised.”

She added, “You also provided ideas for how we could better connect with each other so we could better work together and support each other.”

Stephanie encouraged members to keep in touch and continue the collaboration started in Sharjah.

“Build on the working relationships that were made or strengthened at the conference,” she said. “Contact people and organisations you met through email or message in WhatsApp or in our Facebook group.”

Members from Asia-Pacific meet and share insights on inclusive research at the World Congress.

Shiva shared a final message: “We should advocate for our rights regularly to make sure our voices are heard. Let us all focus on advocacy from our sides so that governments listen to our concerns.”

You can read more about Asia-Pacific members’ participation in the World Congress in the Asia-Pacific Regional Report here.