Cara E. Yar Khan
International Disability Rights Executive

Cara E. Yar Khan International Disability Rights ExecutiveCara E. Yar Khan International Disability Rights ExecutiveCara E. Yar Khan International Disability Rights Executive
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Cara E. Yar Khan
International Disability Rights Executive

Cara E. Yar Khan International Disability Rights ExecutiveCara E. Yar Khan International Disability Rights ExecutiveCara E. Yar Khan International Disability Rights Executive
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Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan

Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan

Changing the way the world thinks about what human beings are capable of!

Global Influence. Disability Expertise. Transformative Leadership.

Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan is a global strategist, international public speaker, entrepreneur and disability rights expert working at the intersection of diplomacy, business, human rights and social impact.


A former White House political appointee, Cara served as Senior Advisor on International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State. Her international career has also included leadership roles and assignments with the United Nations World Food Programme, UNICEF and Dell Technologies across Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States.


As Founder and CEO of The Purple Practice, Cara advises governments, global companies, foundations and international organizations on disability inclusive strategy, partnerships and investment.

TED TALK: The Beautiful Balance Between Courage & FEAR

After being diagnosed with a rare genetic muscle wasting condition, Cara was told she'd have to limit her career ambitions and dial down her dreams. She ignored that advice and continued to pursue her biggest ambitions. 


In this powerful, moving TED talk, with ~3 million views, hear her philosophy for working on the projects that matter to her most -- while letting courage and fear coexist. 


Watch for heart-stopping, vertigo-inducing footage that shows her living her theory to the full. 

Watch the Trailer for Cara's short doc film Facing the Falls

Trailer with Open Captions

Trailer With Audio Descriptions

Cara Yar Khan & Tatyana McFadden champion disability rights

Disability advocate and United Nations humanitarian Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan and the most decorated U.S. Paralympic track and field athlete in history Tatyana McFadden take the stage at the Global Citizen Festival in New York's Central Park on September 28, 2024 to announce a groundbreaking Global Disabilities campaign and summit to demand equity and social justice for all. 

As featured in

People

"It was challenge after challenge, roadblock after roadblock, barrier after barrier, but I always came back to the people who surrounded me, the people who believed in us … it wasn't about me, it was about us.” 🔗: bit.ly/3OFPi0g

MSNBC Morning Joe

The new documentary 'Facing the Falls' tells the story of international disability rights advocate Cara Yar Khan as she sets out to cross the Grand Canyon. Khan along with Executive Producer Chelsea Clinton join Morning Joe to discuss.

Watch the interview with Chelsea Clinton & Cara Yar Khan: https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/-facing-the-falls-follows-disability-rights-advocate-s-grand-canyon-journey-226019397780

TIME

TIME

"I hope Facing the Falls reminds you of the power of your own worth, and of allyship and solidarity with people who are different from you.” 

Read Cara’s full essay: https://time.com/.../facing-the-falls-international-day.../

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Cara Yar Khan

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