Yasmin Atwal has been selected as the recipient of the Top Youth Human Rights Leader in Canada of 2026 award by Evergreen Awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions to disability rights advocacy, inclusive education reform, and youth led human rights initiatives across Canada and internationally. Through a combination of research driven accessibility strategies, public advocacy, and community engagement, Yasmin Atwal has become a recognized voice in advancing equitable educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
Recognition Rationale
The selection for this recognition is based on demonstrated leadership in human rights advocacy, measurable impact in education accessibility, development of practical inclusion tools, and sustained engagement with disability communities. Yasmin Atwal’s work focuses on identifying and addressing systemic barriers faced by students with disabilities while promoting long term structural improvements within educational institutions.
Her advocacy is distinguished by a practical and solutions focused approach that emphasizes implementation rather than awareness alone. By creating actionable frameworks for schools, educators, and administrators, Yasmin Atwal has contributed to meaningful conversations surrounding accessibility, inclusion, and equal educational opportunity.
Youth Led Initiative in Inclusive Education
Yasmin Atwal is the founder of the National Accessible Schools Initiative, a program designed to support schools in improving accessibility and inclusion for students with disabilities. The initiative includes a comprehensive 81 page National Disability Inclusion Toolkit that provides actionable strategies for educators, school leaders, and administrators seeking to create more inclusive learning environments.
The toolkit addresses classroom accessibility, school environment adaptation, inclusive teaching practices, accessibility awareness, and alignment with human rights and accessibility standards. The initiative encourages schools to move beyond policy discussions and implement measurable accessibility practices that directly benefit students.
Yasmin is also the founder of the National Disability Advisory council where she brings
Women STEM Mentorship and Inclusive Leadership
Since 2023, Yasmin Atwal has also served as Co-founder of Women STEM Mentorship, an organization focused on supporting women and girls of all abilities, including individuals with visible and invisible disabilities or neurodivergence, in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and medicine.
Through e-mentoring, career development initiatives, and industry partnerships, Women STEM Mentorship works to bridge gender gaps in STEM while ensuring equitable access to opportunities, mentorship, and professional development. The organization is committed to creating inclusive mentorship opportunities, encouraging disability representation in STEM leadership, promoting equitable access to education and networking, building safe and respectful learning environments, and incorporating disability inclusion into mentorship training and programming.
All mentors within the organization are trained in disability inclusion through a free specialized course created by Yasmin Atwal.
Accessibility Education and Legal Literacy
Yasmin Atwal is also the Creator and Instructor of a free online certificate course titled “Accessibility, Disability Rights & Legal Literacy in Education.” The youth led educational program was developed to provide evidence based training focused on disability inclusion, accessible education practices, and legal literacy.
The course includes practical implementation tools and training modules designed for educators, school leaders, mentors, students, and policymakers. Built upon the 81 page National Disability Inclusion Toolkit, the program covers topics including accessibility law, inclusive classroom practices, accommodation strategies, and student leadership in accessibility advocacy.
The course reflects Yasmin Atwal’s continued focus on transforming accessibility education into actionable and measurable practices that can be implemented across educational institutions and mentorship environments.
Educational Reach and Impact
The National Disability Inclusion Toolkit has been distributed to more than 15,000 schools across Canada and 50,000 schools throughout the United States. The initiative continues to serve as a structured resource supporting accessibility planning and inclusive education practices within school systems.
In addition, the Accessible Schools Pledge and Certification framework encourages institutions to adopt measurable accessibility commitments while evaluating internal barriers to inclusion. This model supports accountability and encourages long term improvements in accessibility practices.
Advocacy and Global Engagement
Yasmin Atwal has participated in multiple international platforms focused on human rights, education equity, sustainability, and accessibility. She is a Tedx speaker and her engagements also include speaking opportunities connected to United Nations related forums and global youth conferences dedicated to social justice and inclusion. She also has a youtube channel called “Yasmin’s Legal Lounge” where she educates youth about their legal rights. Her award winning book “The Human Code: Law Through Our Eyes” emphasizes human rights, justice and disability inclusion.
Her advocacy consistently reinforces the principle that inclusive education is a fundamental human right. Through public speaking, youth engagement, and collaborative discussions, Yasmin Atwal continues to contribute to global conversations surrounding equitable access to education for individuals with disabilities.
Innovation in Accessibility Education
The National Accessible Schools Initiative combines research, community consultation, and policy analysis to develop structured accessibility solutions for schools. The toolkit integrates physical accessibility considerations, inclusive classroom strategies, and awareness building to support systemic improvements in education environments. It also incorporates a certification based recognition model for schools that adopt accessibility commitments, supporting long term implementation of inclusive practices.
Evaluation Criteria
The award selection is based on criteria including leadership in human rights advocacy, contribution to disability inclusion, measurable educational impact, development of scalable tools for accessibility, alignment with global education equity goals, engagement with disability communities, and advancement of inclusive education practices.
Closing Recognition Statement
Yasmin Atwal is recognized for advancing youth led human rights advocacy through practical education tools, disability inclusion initiatives, and structured accessibility programs aimed at improving equitable opportunities for students with disabilities across school systems and mentorship environments.
Website reference
At Evergreen Awards, we honor excellence across three key categories—Organizations, Products, and Individuals. By recognizing success in all its forms, we shine a light on the achievements that inspire progress and set new standards for greatness.
