Together, Jidapha and Aphinya will lead a Youth Innovation Project to address opportunities for meaningful engagement of youth with intellectual disabilities (ID) after graduating from school. Recognizing the negative impact of unemployment, these Youth Leaders hope to highlight the added value of employing individuals with ID. The Youth Leaders will draw from their previous experience in Special Olympics forums, summits, and activities to develop a job search network via social media for youth with ID in Thailand.

Over the course of twelve months, Jidapha and Aphinya will work closely with stakeholders and local companies to address the high rates of unemployment among youth with ID. Jidapha and Aphinya will start by understanding the barriers to employment from the perspective of the employer and the jobseeker. The pair will then leverage social media (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) to educate the public about intellectual disabilities, with the hope of reducing stigma and providing constructive advice. Ultimately, Jidapha and Aphinya will create an inclusive network that will unite employers and potential candidates alike in order to build an inclusive workspace in Thailand.