Alyssa Wilson (she/they) is a 21-year-old junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion and accessibility in technology. As a computer science major with a focus in front-end development, Alyssa channels her experiences into meaningful work that bridges the gap between technology and user experience.

In addition to her studies, Alyssa worked as a caregiver through CareYaya, supporting elderly and disabled individuals, and served as a resident advisor, fostering inclusive communities. Alyssa also earned an associate degree in General Math and Sciences at Prairie State College, while completing high school, demonstrating her dedication and drive.

Alyssa plans to use her skills to advance accessibility in digital design, working to ensure that technology is inclusive and empowering for all users. She is excited to bring her passion for advocacy and innovation to the AAPD Summer Internship Program.

Image Description: Alyssa, an African American woman in her 20s with long, straight reddish-brown hair and rectangular glasses, is smiling warmly at the camera and standing against a light gray background. They are wearing a light lavender dress shirt paired with a black vest and a black tie. They have long, straight reddish-brown hair and her hands are clasped in front of herself.

Brianna “Bri” Arce (she/her) is a disabled, neurodivergent, Latina first-year student at the Community College of Philadelphia with intersecting interests in education, the arts, accessibility, and youth empowerment.

Growing up, Bri spent much of her time exploring her interest in the visual and performing arts and was deeply impacted by the teaching artists she learned from, seeing her abilities shine through as they taught her to be brave and bold. This led to her passion for arts education and creative expression as tools for youth empowerment and change-making within marginalized communities. She presently works as an intern for Philadelphia Young Playwrights, an arts education nonprofit empowering youth across the Greater Philadelphia area through the power of playwriting and performance opportunities. She also works as a Teaching Artist for Yes! And… Collaborative Arts where she enjoys teaching children performing and visual arts skills. In the recent past, Bri has also taught for Arden Theatre Company, ASAP Drama, and Ensemble Arts Philly. Introducing young creatives to the world of theater brings her immense joy and has led her to be passionate about ensuring young people have access to quality, accessible arts education and performing arts venues. 

At CCP, she is the president of the Disability Student Club – a new but ever-growing community that aims to provide a safe space for disabled students as well as help them to make their voices heard. She aspires to be a voice for the Autistic community and an advocate for all people with disabilities across the globe which is why she is excited to take part in the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program while in D.C. for her internship. In her spare time, Bri enjoys drawing, reading, writing (plays and poetry,) listening to music, and being a curious cat. 

Image Description: Brianna, a Latina woman in her 20s with long, dark brown hair is standing in front of a grey background, wearing a black blazer and grey dress. Her head is slightly tilted to the side, and she is smiling.

Brynn Patterson (she/her) is a rising junior at the illustrious Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. As a History and English Double Major on a Pre-Law track, she is an aspiring human rights, civil rights, or disability law lawyer with a lifetime aspiration of being a Supreme Court Justice. 

As a Disabled, Neurodivergent, Black Woman, Brynn is a lifelong advocate for justice. She is passionate about Disability Rights, Racial Justice, Reproductive Justice and so much more. All of her identities and lived experiences have shaped her perspective to learn perseverance, grit, and resilience and made her truly want to do her part to make the world a better place. 

At her core, she is an advocate and ambassador for her peers. She always strives to amplify and uplift the voices in her community. She hopes her current skills and qualities will only further be improved with all she will learn as an AAPD intern. 

Brynn chose AAPD because she is dedicated, community-minded, enthusiastic about empowerment, and a positive agent for change. She strives to do her best as a Leader, Dreamer, Innovator, Visionary, and hopefully:  Revolutionary!

Image description: Brynn, a Black woman in her 20s with long, curly hair styled in box braids, stands in front of a grey background, smiling brightly at the camera with one hand on her hip. She is wearing a black top with a white collar and sleeves, with delicate pearl earrings, gold bracelet, and decorative necklace. 

Charlotte Chung (she/her) is a rising junior at Wellesley College, studying Education with a minor in Mathematics. Her personal experience navigating the accommodation process from elementary school to college sparked a deep interest in advocating for necessary accommodations for students with disabilities. This passion drives her goal of working in the field of disability rights within education after graduation. Charlotte is dedicated to making educational spaces more accessible and inclusive, which she actively pursues as the Academic Chair of Students for Accessible Wellesley. In this role, she works to connect students and faculty, fostering conversations about the challenges and needs of the disability community at Wellesley.

Outside of Wellesley College, Charlotte is an instructional designer for the Scheller Teacher Education Program at MIT, where she helps develop curricula and tutorials for a block-based coding program. She is also a member of the Wellesley College Mock Trial, serving as the First-Year Chair. In this position, she organizes tryouts and trains new members. Charlotte was also part of the team that qualified for the American Mock Trial Association Nationals last year, where the top 48 college mock trial teams from across the country gathered to compete.

Image Description: Charlotte, an East Asian woman in her 20s with long black hair and bangs, is smiling at the camera in front of a grey background. She is wearing a dark grey blazer and a black shirt with silver jewelry.

Christol Wright (she/her) is a senior graduate student at Empire State University College, pursuing a master’s degree in Social and Public Policy. With a strong passion for public health and health policy, she aims to contribute to a government agency addressing these critical areas.

Christol brings a wealth of experience from her background in human services, where she provided both direct and indirect support to individuals and communities. She is also an alumna of the AmeriCorps National and VISTA program, underscoring her commitment to service and community development.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Christol is deeply involved in promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at her college and serves as a dedicated member of the Student Government Association. She is a proud recipient of the prestigious Graduate Diversity Fellowship Scholarship, further highlighting her leadership and commitment to social impact. With her academic foundation, professional experience, and dedication to equity and inclusion, Christol is poised to make significant contributions to the field of public health and health policy.

Image Description: Christol, a Black woman with brownish-blonde long curly braids, and fashionable black cat-eye glasses, crosses her arms and smiles at the camera underneath her black N-95 mask. She is wearing a black and white striped button-up shirt and small gold hoop earrings. 

Dylan Bunyak (she/they) is a rising Junior at Wellesley College studying Philosophy and Art History with an interest in education, cultural work, and intersectional social justice. As a COVID-conscious writer and advocate, she is passionate about creating intentional, accessible community spaces and amplifying marginal narratives through multimedia storytelling. Since moving to Massachusetts for school, they have worked with the Disability Justice Youth Center as a workshop facilitator and was named one of the 2024 Emerging Boston Art Writing Fellows for the Boston Art Review. In the past, they have also written for All Existing Magazine, Blunt Force Journal, the La Jolla Playhouse, and The Old Globe. Dylan currently works as the student manager for Wellesley’s Art Library and as an organizer for Students for an Accessible Wellesley. She is excited to join the AAPD cohort this summer with an eye toward further work in Disability Studies post-graduation.

Image Description: Dylan, a white femme person in their 20s with medium length curly red hair and freckles is smiling at the camera with her hands in her pockets in front of a solid gray background. They are wearing a dark green v-neck dress that is dotted with small orange flowers. 

Ela’jah Dixon (she/her) is a student at Marquette University pursuing a double major in cognitive science and criminology. With a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ela’jah has dedicated their academic and professional career to empowering communities and advocating for systemic change.

Ela’jah’s leadership roles include chairing the Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Committee in student government, where they focus on creating meaningful connections with the student body and driving initiatives that foster inclusivity. Additionally, Ela’jah is the founder of Faithful Flow, a campus organization that uses dance to express faith and build community within the Christian population at Marquette.

Professionally, Ela’jah has gained valuable experience through internships with Milwaukee County Adult Protective Services and the Milwaukee Justice Center, where they provided legal and social support to individuals facing barriers. They also worked in the Office of Mayor Cavalier Johnson, where they deepened their understanding of government operations and policy-making. 

An advocate for mental health awareness, Ela’jah has led workshops and events aimed at supporting survivors of trauma, including their THRIVE project, which promotes healthy coping mechanisms. Outside of academics and advocacy, Ela’jah enjoys playing the violin, praise dancing, and writing, with the goal of publishing their book Big Girls Don’t Cry.

Ela’jah’s dedication to service and social justice reflects their vision of creating a more equitable world where everyone has access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

Image Description: Ela’jah, a Black woman with short cropped brownish-red hair is standing in front of a gray wall and smiling with her mouth closed, with her arms crossed in front of her. She is wearing a black shirt and a tan blazer vest. 

Esmeralda Cazarez (she/her) is a 22-year-old Mexican-American political science graduate from California State University, Long Beach. She is deeply committed to creating a future where all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities, can lead fulfilling lives.

As someone who is visually impaired, Esmeralda has firsthand experience navigating a society that often lacks accessibility. This personal perspective inspired her to champion policies that address the diverse needs of all constituents during her time as a community college board member and legislative fellow in Long Beach, CA.

Esmeralda recognizes that achieving lasting societal change requires a deep understanding of the systems that shape our world. She aspires to become an attorney, driven by her belief that legal knowledge is a powerful tool to dismantle barriers and build a more inclusive and equitable society.

Image Description: Esmerelda, a blonde light-skinned woman in her 20s, with long, wavy, platinum blonde hair is smiling at the camera with one arm crossed over her body, and one hand resting under her chin. She is wearing a white top and light brown blazer with her sleeves rolled stylishly up, in front of a grey background.  

Huá Huī Vogel (He/They) is an ambulatory wheelchair user who is LGBTQ, a Chinese
adoptee, and Disabled. Huá Huī is a graduating Honors student at Florida International
University (FIU), double majoring in B.A. in Liberal Studies in Law, Business, and
Society & Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Business. Afterward, he plans to
attend law school. He is a passionate intersectional advocate focused on
information-sharing, coalition-building, community-building, and sustainability and
long-term planning. Their main philosophy is that to be a well-rounded individual then
one must diversify their knowledge, experience, and cognitive style. Besides academics and intersectional advocacy, he is a professional photographer, plant lover, fitness enthusiast, and a philomath.

From his personal experience and upbringing, Huá Huī has always had to advocate for himself to be seen and heard. Whether it’d be from personal, professional, or academic spaces, he has always challenged himself to the best of his ability to break down barriers. In all of this, he empowers others to do the same by lending a helping hand — there is no “I” in the word “team”.

The establishment of organizations like the Disabled + Abled United Honor Society in
high school and the Disabled Student Union Bureau in college created avenues of community building, furthering a cause by empowering, educating, spreading, and
experiencing a varied set of issues. Within a team, there is collaboration inter-translating itself to better understand other roles, as he has done, having held countless leadership positions. While he had prior experience to rely on for some of these positions, for some he had to develop within adjacent roles to better understand the in/outs of the operation.

Leadership roles include, but are not limited to, Pride Student Union Bureau [Vice
President, Treasurer], Student Government Association (SGA) [College of Engineering
and Computing Senator, University Sustainability and Innovation Chair, Rules and Administration Vice Chair, Appropriations Member], Engineering Student Council [Founder, Treasurer], Sustainable Panther Network [Founder, Internal Vice President].

Within the bounds of these roles, Huá Huī has accumulated a myriad of expertise.
Beyond leadership roles, he is an intern for the FIU’s Office of University Sustainability
and the Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative (AADI) and works for the National
LGBTQ Task Force as an Events Consultant.

In whatever shape or form, Huá Huī’s mission in life is to be an advocate for those around him. He will continue to push barriers and create spaces for the marginalized to be seen and heard. He will continue to empower and strengthen the next generation to continue the fight for a more equitable society.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu

Image Description: Huá Huī, a Chinese person in their 20s with black hair, is sitting in their wheelchair with their arms crossed and has a big smile on their face. They are wearing a black suit with a button-down shirt with yellow flowers on it. They have gold, geometric shaped glasses, and small gold-colored earrings. 

Janna Wang (she/her) is a rising junior at Duke University from Flushing, New York studying Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Visual Media Studies. Growing up in a diverse and close-knit community, she was shaped by experiences of mutual aid and collective care, which continue to guide her work.

At Duke, Janna researches sound-based microfluidic systems in the Acoustofluidics Lab, focusing on practical applications for small-scale engineering challenges. Her commitment to accessibility drives her work beyond the lab, where she modifies toys to better serve the needs of children with disabilities. Janna was also involved in the development of a modular, reusable lunch tray system for Durham Public Schools, aiming to improve efficiency while reducing waste. She is driven by a passion for creating innovative solutions that make a real, lasting impact while prioritizing sustainability and the needs of the community. 

In her free time, Janna loves painting and photography; as someone with a strong passion for the arts and creative thinking, she is always seeking ways to blend artistic expression with technical work. She recently co-created EDGE Magazine, a platform that explores human experiences, diverse voices, and culture through thought-provoking thinkpieces.

Image Description: Janna, an Asian woman with long brown hair with auburn tones, is smiling and standing, turning to look over her shoulder toward the camera. She is wearing a pale pink blazer and a dark navy skirt. She is standing in front of a mint green background.

Kadesha Treco (she/her) is a fourth-year Public Policy Ph.D. student at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, pursuing the Social Justice track with a focus on Disability Studies. Originally from Nassau, Bahamas, she moved to the United States in 2014 to further her education. Her experiences navigating higher education as a disabled student and working in her institution’s disability student services office during the pandemic inspired her interest in policy studies.

Kadesha’s research applies critical disability studies theory to examine the experiences of students with disabilities regarding access and accommodations in higher education. As an international student, she is also deeply interested in global disability studies and innovative approaches, such as podcasting, to amplify marginalized voices in traditionally exclusionary spaces.

Kadesha’s career goals include collaborating with nonprofit organizations and think tanks to create accessible and participatory strategies that engage individuals with disabilities and other marginalized groups in the policymaking process. She aims to empower these communities, fostering active citizenry and addressing critical social justice issues.

Image Description: Kadesha, a medium Black woman with a short-textured pixie haircut is sitting in a black manual wheelchair leaning back on her arm, which is propped up on the push handle. She has a big smile and is wearing a cream-colored knitted turtleneck long sleeve and long pants.

Lazy Levin (they/them) is a rising senior at the University of New Orleans studying Psychology. In addition, Levin is an artist and activist who has volunteered across the U.S. and Mexico in mutual aid settings supporting children and adults. Levin is thrilled to join the AAPD community and share their passion for social justice, accessible education, and disability rights.

Image Description: Lazy, a white person with green hair is posing in front of a light grey background with a serious, powerful expression and their arms. They have a nose septum piercing and are wearing a black short-sleeved turtleneck and two layered necklaces. Several of their arm tattoos are visible.

Lauryn Huffman (she/her) is a recent graduate from Vast Academy at Houston Community College Central Campus where she received an Occupational Skills/Career Readiness Certificate. In the fall, she will be a rising freshman at St. Thomas University studying business. Since she was 16, Lauryn has run her own business. She is currently the owner of a small business called Events by Alexandria, and she hopes to use her Business education to expand her business. Outside of school and work, Lauryn is passionate about family, leadership and helping others.

Image Description: Lauryn Huffman, a Black woman with braids with red curled ends and tortiseshell glasses is wearing a pink top with ruffle sleeves and smiling at the camera in front of a grey background. 

Malcolm Miller (he/him) is a Black, queer, trans, mentally ill rising senior at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) where he studies Sociology and Psychology with a minor in Social Justice. In 2022, Malcolm was selected to be a part of the President’s Leadership Development Program, a 4-year cohort-based leadership program for social change for which he received a full cost of attendance scholarship. At CWRU, he serves as president of PERIOD@CWRU – a menstrual equity organization, Vice President of Service for the CWRU’s chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary, and a Peer Educator for violence prevention at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women. His research interests include alternatives to policing for marginalized survivors of abuse and suicide trends among Black youth. Malcolm is originally from Philadelphia, PA and is a lover of coffee ice cream, public transit, and word games.

Image Description: Malcolm, a Black person with dark hair and round wire-rimmed glasses is smiling and crossing his arms in an ornate green button-down and black suit jacket.

Marcy Hannah Waring (she/her) is a rising senior at Brandeis University, majoring in Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP). While she values the strong foundation in public health that her major provides, her work extends far beyond the classroom. She is deeply committed to making a tangible impact on her community and studies aspects of disability policy to accomplish this goal. Her primary areas of focus include architectural accessibility, carceral justice, and disability research using qualitative methods.

As an active member of her University’s Accessibility Committee, Marcy works to address physical accessibility concerns and drafts grant proposals to bring solutions to life. Her latest initiative will introduce high-visibility stair strips on campus, enhancing edge contrast to reduce slip risks for low-vision and blind students.

Marcy is also interested in further studying the disproportionate impacts of carceral practices on disabled and neurodivergent individuals who interact with any part of the U.S. criminal justice system. Through her research, she aims to uplift the needs of people with disabilities at every stage, including policing, court proceedings, sentencing, and incarceration. 

As a research fellow at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Marcy is involved in an NIH-funded study that uses interviews to identify the unmet needs of disabled mothers during pregnancy. Her role involves compiling existing literature on the topic and coding the interview transcripts. 

Relevant skills from her work experience include efficient project management, knowledge of standards for accessible design, intersectional advocacy, experience conducting background literature searches, and proficient qualitative coding.

Image Description: Marcy Waring, a light skinned, mixed Latina and Asian woman is looking straight at the camera. She has shoulder length blonde hair, wears brown glasses, and has red lipstick on. She is wearing a beige blazer over a white shirt. A white and black keffiyeh is over her shoulders.

Mercy Botchway (she/her) is a college student who permanently resides in Massachusetts. She fights for disability justice through an intersectional lens, displaying her knowledge of different types and levels of discrimination. In 2021, Mercy received the Heumann-Armstrong Award, which acknowledges rising disability rights activists. She has published in Forbes, discussing the power of mentoring. She immigrated from Ghana to Massachusetts in 2012 and was diagnosed with severe bilateral hearing loss in 2013. Mercy wants to work in the education leadership field to build schools that serve disabled students in Ghana and other impoverished nations.

Image Description: Mercy, a young Black woman with braids pulled back, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a lavender-pink dress and small gold hoop earrings. 

Rohit Sen (he/him) is a junior at Seattle University majoring in Computer Science, where he combines his passion for technology with a dedication to personal and professional growth. Rohit is the Microsoft STEM intern for the 2025 AAPD Summer Internship Program.

Having personally experienced the challenges of living with a disability, Rohit is driven to research and understand unique issues that individuals with specific disabilities encounter and is committed to building a career focused on technology to create inclusive solutions that empower individuals with disabilities.

Previously, Rohit served as a Digital Accessibility Intern at the American Foundation for the Blind, where he gained hands-on experience with various technologies on accessibility, which further fueled his interest in assistive technologies and solidified his ambition to champion accessibility in his professional journey.

Rohit has developed two impactful Android applications that address challenges faced by disabled individuals. VocalText offers audio summaries of web content, reducing reliance on screen readers and enabling quicker access to essential information. VisiAide, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, allows visually impaired users to capture and analyze images, providing conversational insights into product details like ingredients and expiration dates. These projects reflect his dedication to leveraging AI to improve accessibility and solve real-world problems.

Outside his academic and professional pursuits, Rohit enjoys exploring the inner workings of computers, playing video games with his friends, and immersing himself in car culture. With a passion for innovation and inclusivity, Rohit aims to create technologies that break barriers and ensure equal access for all.’

Image Description: Rohit, a South-Asian Indian man with short curly black hair and eyeglasses without frames, smiles at the camera indoors against a grey background. He wears a black blazer with a black button-down shirt.

Timothy Jackson (he/him) is a rising junior from Nashville, TN, studying Political Science & Public Health at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Originally hailing from Atlanta, GA, Timothy is a politically and advocacy-engaged individual who is merely in the beginning stages of his academic, professional, and advocacy pursuits. Currently he is engaged in academic research on the intersection of healthcare availability and loss of economic opportunity in rural Appalachia. 

Currently a reigning member of the Disability Advisory Board and College Democrats at the University of Tennessee, Timothy has been an impassioned advocate and observer from early in his life. Timothy has a loss of fine motor function caused by Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). Rather than letting his condition obtained at 13 stop him, it has merely filled him with a new desire to advocate on behalf of those who can’t advocate for themselves. He accomplishes this through policy analysis, public engagement, and research.   

In his free time Timothy is a fanatical sports fan, rooting for the Tennessee Titans, Tennessee Volunteers, Nashville SC, and Memphis Grizzlies. He loves to watch movies, cook, garden, and loves dogs! In the future Timothy hopes to work for the US State Department as a Foreign Service Officer.

Image Description: Timothy Jackson, a young Black man with locs tied up on his head, is looking with a serious expression at the camera and posing with both hands in his pockets. He is wearing a navy blazer, jeans, and a white turtleneck.

Tooba Ishaq (she/her) is a Master of Social Work student dedicated to disability rights, human rights advocacy, and empowering marginalized communities. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Workwith a minor in Child Development from Sacramento State University. With extensive experience supporting diverse populations, Tooba has worked with refugees, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities. She has interned with the International Rescue Committee and Mutual Housing California and served as a youth advocate with MAS-SSF. Currently, she is a graduate research assistant and is completing her field practicum working with children. Through the AAPD internship, Tooba aims to advance inclusive policies and strengthen her advocacy efforts.

Image Description: Tooba, a South Asian woman with light tan skin and long, wavy brown hair, smiles at the camera. She was one arm crossed across her body and the other resting under her chinm and is wearing a floral top and a black blazer.