Pacific disabled youth in the community met with the Pacific team to discuss their lived experiences, intersectional identities and recommendations for change.

Participants in the fono shared:

• Each participant shared their experiences of abuse. They associated abuse with certain emotions they experienced while being abused such as pain, frustration, discouragement and sadness. Abuse was also described as a situation where a person’s weakness is taken advantage of. It could also include the small things which make life more difficult for a person with a disability.
• Faith was also mentioned as being an important aspect of coping.
• It is important to involve a young person in decision-making processes.
• Young people need to be removed immediately from abusive situations.
• Organisations must be held responsible.
• Organisations need to conduct background checks on all their workers and carefully review all appointments.