Lois Auta, Founder and President of the Network of Women with Disabilities, delivered a powerful speech on the transformative power of storytelling at the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025 in Berlin, calling for greater inclusion and empathy in addressing the challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities.
Speaking on the theme “Creating Change Through Storytelling,” Auta emphasized how narratives can reshape perspectives, foster human connection, and promote inclusive development.
“Storytelling has a profound impact in the lives of persons with disabilities, especially women and girls,” she said. “For me, I was affected by polio when I was two years old. But I see my disability not as a cost, but as a blessing. I see it as a bridge, not a barricade—an opportunity to change the world.”
Auta recounted how, despite societal discouragement, her parents insisted on giving her access to education. “They said, ‘Among all our children, she’s the most intelligent and must go to school,’” she recalled. Today, she is not only a university graduate but also a Mandela Washington Fellow and the first Black African woman with a disability named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
In 2019, Auta made history by becoming the first woman with a disability to run for the House of Representatives in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, among over 4,000 candidates—demonstrating that progress is possible, even without electoral victory.
She stressed that personal stories are essential tools for advocacy, capable of bridging gaps in policy and perception. Auta shared accounts of two women with disabilities whose experiences in the healthcare system highlighted glaring accessibility issues. One, who miscarried after falling down a staircase due to lack of infrastructure, and another, a deaf woman left unattended during the COVID-19 pandemic because no sign language interpreter was available.
“These stories show the missing link between patients with disabilities and our healthcare systems,” Auta said. “Do we have ramps? Sign language interpreters? Braille materials in hospitals?”
She challenged governments and stakeholders to reflect on how persons with disabilities are engaged in planning, processes, and progress. “How are we changing narratives? How are we moving from barriers to bridges?” she asked. “It’s time to involve persons with disabilities at every stage of development to ensure truly inclusive societies.”
Auta concluded with a call to action for policymakers, gatekeepers, and duty bearers to harness the power of storytelling to drive empathy, awareness, and systemic change.
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