The Conference

iI.Lead is a means for young people with disabilities from across New Zealand to come together and make their voices heard on what issues they face and what barriers they come up against, as a young person living with a disability in New Zealand. It's about empowering the young people within the sector to make the change. To break down those barriers, to tackle the issues with potential solutions and present those solutions to decision makers enabling a future of fulfilling, thriving lives for young people with disabilities.

I.Lead was a co-creative concept formed by a group of young people with disabilities from YES Disability Resource Centre, Minister of Disability Hon. Carmel Sepuloni and Office of Disability Issues Director Bryan Coffey. This was later supported by Minister of Youth Hon. Peeni Henare along with multiple other disability organisations who put forward a young person with a disability to represent them in the I.Lead Organising Committee

Its main purpose: To provide a safe, stable platform that not only allows young people with disabilities to have their voices heard on the issues they face but also provide them with the means to talk with government and sector decision makers to find solutions to those issues.

From its first concept meeting, the I.Lead group has grown into a powerhouse of diverse youth representatives from across the sector. Forming the Organisational Committee, the group have created a platform to strengthen and resource other young people with disabilities from across the country.