“ Being part of a disability community often encourages us to advocate for ourselves and others. It provides a platform to raise awareness about disability-related issues, advocate for our needs, and challenge the societal stigmas and barriers we face.”

Connecting with others who have disabilities has allowed me to share my experiences and challenges. This cohort has allowed me to create a sense of belonging and understanding that can be difficult to find elsewhere. For a long portion of my life self-doubt, fear of judgment and failure have been significant barriers in expressing my thoughts and ideas. Previous negative experiences have had such a lasting impact on my confidence. These experiences created a fear of vulnerability and further reinforced my struggle to find my voice.

Through these shared experiences of the cohort, I have gained valuable insights, advice, and support from peers who can relate even through our different experiences. Being part of a disability community often encourages us to advocate for ourselves and others. It provides a platform to raise awareness about disability-related issues, advocate for our needs, and challenge the societal stigmas and barriers we face. The collective strength of this cohort has amplified our individual voices. The diversity and intersectionality we face within our community proves the strength each person contributes to the greater impact and positive change.

I’ve been offered a chance to discuss concerns, seek advice, and share coping strategies with a community of people that don’t need an educational lesson on what it means to be disabled, but rather a affirmative nod, or a gentle reminder to not apologizing for simply being ourselves. Building connections with like-minded individuals who understand the lived experiences with a disability has helped me find a safety net of people who can truly relate. These past few weeks have helped me combat some of my own negative stereotypes within myself and promote a more authentic version of myself. I want to continue to find my voice, I’m not claiming to have suddenly found all my answers that I’m looking for, but so far I can say I’m getting closer.

“Getting to share my experience as a disabled person and hearing others’, how they compared and contrasted, was something I never experienced…For the first time, I actually felt confident in my identity as a disabled person, and I felt welcomed into the community.”

Going through most of my life with an undiagnosed developmental disability, I struggled and barely got through high school and college. In fact, it wasn’t until about halfway through university that one of my closest friends told me she had ADHD, and she helped me begin my journey into figuring out why I was struggling so much with school. This was my first introduction into a disability community, but there was still a long way to go. My college did not have any disability organizations, at least not any that I was aware of, so I struggled alone with my symptoms mostly, with the exception of a few friends that helped me make it to the end.

The AAPD Summer Internship cohort was my first experience with a larger disability community, and it felt more validating than almost anything. Getting to share my experience as a disabled person and hearing others’, how they compared and contrasted, was something I never experienced, and I had the privilege of being vulnerable with my cohort without any fear of judgment. For the first time, I actually felt confident in my identity as a disabled person, and I felt welcomed into the community. This internship was my lightbulb moment in realizing why it’s so important to find a disability community.

Although not everyone can relate perfectly to everyone’s experiences, and inter-ableism certainly exists, the support I received from the cohort was the desire for each other to succeed, and teaching each other how to navigate our lives, advocate for ourselves, and keep each other safe as disabled people.

“Now, I feel like I belong in a community that empathizes, not sympathizes, with my experiences as a disabled, neurodivergent, and autistic person.”

Before AAPD, I barely knew any disabled people in my age group. Being a neurodivergent and disabled person can be very isolating in the world that is suited for the neurotypical able bodied.

Also, in my school, I was only able to interact with people from New York State. At AAPD I met advocates like me who share similar experiences from all over America. It is very liberating to be part of the disabled community as you are free to express yourself and find peers who are willing to be your friends not just acquaintance. Now, I feel like I belong in a community that empathizes, not sympathizes, with my experiences as a disabled, neurodivergent, and autistic person.

This internship cohort has broadened my perspective on the importance of finding a disability community, as it provides a platform for us to discuss the challenges we face and collaborate on driving positive change.

“As a leader, maintaining an open mind and working with others that could bring more to the table than me would be vital to sustaining transformational change.”

Leadership can come in life at any time. First, I would recognize all my strengths to help identify and lift up each other in my community. I would want to be a transformative grassroots leader standing on the front lines and fighting for freedom, equality, and disability social justice, even if my name goes on the first line. I would listen to every person’s concerns because every voice matter, whether they are abled-bodied or dis/Abled.

I would challenge the systematic structure that was not made for marginalized intersectional disabled groups that are judged based on their political identities. I would become the motivational speaker for the next generation of dis/Ability young people and adults and help them understand that they are more than their disability. As a leader, maintaining an open mind and working with others that could bring more to the table than me would be vital to sustaining transformational change. I would one day run for Congress or Senate to represent Black and Brown LGBTQ-educated underrepresented women and fight for healthcare, voting rights, social security reform, housing and transportation, education equality, and our legal system to change peacefully. I would work with all races, sexualities, genders, socioeconomic statuses, abilities, and ages to improve the lives of children and adults with all types of dis/Abilities.

As a leader, I would continue to learn from individuals and the world around me as it grows. I would use my emotional intelligence, education, and personal story to make new and amended disability rights and civil rights laws.

“I feel fortunate that I am applying my lens as a computer scientist rather than an impacted plaintiff to ensure that AI policy protects against discriminatory practices for all marginalized communities.”

Having the opportunity to work in the Office of the Chair at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission this summer has been incredibly empowering for my future career. I am supporting policies and practices that stretch across the nation and a diverse set of backgrounds.

I feel fortunate that I am applying my lens as a computer scientist rather than an impacted plaintiff to ensure that AI policy protects against discriminatory practices for all marginalized communities. Because of AAPD and Chair Burrow’s team, I am returning to graduate studies with the conviction that I can be more than a beneficiary of the great innovations of our time. I can play an active role in its development and ethical deployment for all people, including but not limited to people with disabilities.

“Being part of the 2023 AAPD summer internship cohort has reaffirmed my understanding that finding a disability community is critical to survival, organizing for political and social change, and feeling generally seen and understood.”

Being part of the 2023 AAPD summer internship cohort has reaffirmed my understanding that finding a disability community is critical to survival, organizing for political and social change, and feeling generally seen and understood. I spent most of my childhood denied the right to meaningfully engage with disabled community, even as I was institutionalized repeatedly because I was seen as mentally disabled.

Surprisingly, I never learned the word “ableism” until I reached college and was diagnosed with several chronic physical illnesses. Because my only exposure to disability community growing up was within institutions where disability was an aspect of identity that was supposed to be “treated” and erased, I never had the language to identify the harm and violence I faced as part of historic patterns of ableist discrimination. Connecting with disability community through AAPD has helped me grow in my understanding that I am not alone.

Disability community is beautiful, loving, giving, powerful, and patient, and expanding my disability community has reaffirmed my conviction that I need to fight ableist systems, institutions, and beliefs that deny disabled people the right to form community by locking us away.

“I hope to be a leader who knows how to do, rather than fill the world with empty words. The AAPD internship is not only giving me the tools to become this leader, it’s connecting me with leaders who are already leading this way.”

I think a leader is someone who leads by listening. The disability community is as wide as it is diverse. The world wasn’t built for someone like me – someone who was born without hands and feet and lives with chronic illness. I grew up being the only disabled person I knew, and the heritage that comes with the disability community was lost to me.

As I grew older, I learned the power of the disability community. It marches, it protests, it creates art and movement and strength. Having the honor of being an AAPD intern puts me right in the center of it. Getting here was tough. I was denied my right to accessible education, and I feared I’d never graduate high school. The world moved and I stayed still until I was empowered by accessibility. I graduated from high school four years later than I was supposed to, but when I was given the accessibility I needed, I soared. I’ve found that’s the same philosophy the AAPD has. 

The leader I hope to become in the disability community is one who will be known for my positive impact before my inspiring existence. I hope to be a leader who knows how to do, rather than fill the world with empty words. The AAPD internship is not only giving me the tools to become this leader, it’s connecting me with leaders who are already leading this way. From my internship placement at the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, to my amazing internship cohort, to the mentors we’ve had the opportunity to learn from, I’m meeting role models every day who are leading by example. With this program, my world has expanded. There’s power in numbers, but even one person can change the world.

“The disability community is there to welcome everyone and help disabled people find their bearings in the world that was not designed for them, whether that is people becoming newly disabled or being comfortable with different mobility.

My internship showed me the impact of the disabled voice on our community. Public Health, or even healthcare in general, has a medical model perspective of people with disabilities. With that mindset, there is no place for people to understand different models’ impacts on the disability community. Having a community allowed me many opportunities to have impactful conversations about issues in our community.

One common issue that crosses into the community and is seen in public health is the use of language around people with disabilities. Healthcare uses terms like “special needs” to cater to parents, which doesn’t let individuals with disabilities lead. Kids grow up, and once they get out of school, their needs are not considered “special” anymore. The terms used in the children’s younger years profoundly impact their views as teens and adults. 

In the disabled community, we can have those conversations about the power of language around our disabilities. We look at ourselves and our journey, identify where we found our voice, and own our experiences. As a community, we can see where we need to help the next generation come into their own as we have experienced coming from being seen as “special needs” to being seen as just disabled adults. The disability community is there to welcome everyone and help disabled people find their bearings in the world that was not designed for them, whether that is people becoming newly disabled or being comfortable with different mobility. The beauty of disability communities is that we are there for every moment- the beautiful and the ugly that comes with being a DISABLED PERSON!

“I want to be a leader who supports, empowers, and tells you anything is possible. That tells you your disability community has your back, and we got you.”

I imagine being the leader I always envisioned growing up. I thought that because of my intersectionality of being a Hispanic woman with a disability and a First Gen, I saw leadership as unobtainable, unreachable, and something I didn’t deserve to dream of. The lack of representation growing up became a barrier and obstacle, leading me not to reach my full potential. I felt limited, and I promised myself as a young girl that I didn’t want any more girls to feel the way I felt growing up. I have big dreams and desires to see my community and my disabled community in South Texas be recognized for its outstanding people who have sacrificed their big American dreams because of lack of access. I want to stop feeling like I cannot be intellectual or have intellectual conversations. I want to be unapologetic; I want to be set “free.” It is hard to be a leader when condemned to fit into a box too small.

I found my disability community when I graduated with my undergrad degree, and at the same time, my career was starting. I worked as the Program Coordinator for Advocates Searching for Independence LLC, a company that provides equal employment opportunities to disabled individuals who, unfortunately, were denied a chance. I met other disabled young adults with different stories and experiences; we encouraged and uplifted each other, which led me to become the founding president of the first Community-Caused Based Rotaract Club, which advocates for community inclusion. I have also served at the local, state, and national level. My disability story started here, and I can finally say that I truly feel accepted. I can’t say my journey has been easy. It has had many ups and downs. But I felt like I had found my home.

I want to be a leader who supports, empowers, and tells you anything is possible. That tells you your disability community has your back, and we got you. I want our voices to echo and represent our unrepresented community; I want to be a trailblazer and model the advocacy work my fellow disabled ancestors sacrificed. “Your work is not vain.” I want to be a leader in the disability community that uplifts marginalized minorities and advocates for equity. I want the future generation to have a paved road with access to real change and acceptance. I aspire to push for disabled people to be recognized in all spaces. I want us to bring our whole selves to the table. I genuinely believe we are more powerful together. I don’t want to be a leader that puts limits on the disability community because I genuinely believe that we can make impactful improvements at a national level by creating spaces for disabled people.

“The disability community allows disabled people the space to dream, to lean on one another, and to be proud of who we are— but it also allows us to rest, to be unsure, and to struggle.”

A beautiful reality about the disability community is that it recognizes and uplifts the importance of intergenerational, intersectional, and cross-disability identities. The disability community allows disabled people the space to dream, to lean on one another, and to be proud of who we are – but it also allows us to rest, to be unsure, and to struggle. As a Black woman with disabilities, I had become accustomed to being met with exclusion from communities rather than collaborative support when I experienced challenges related to my identities. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) does an excellent job of selecting young people who reflect the true diversity and future of the disability community, and my cohort has taught me so much about the importance of this space. This year’s internship cohort has taught me what it means to be a part of a community that sees every facet of your identity as a strength rather than a liability, an error, or a weakness.

This year’s AAPD internship cohort has inspired me with their selflessness, kindness, and camaraderie. As a student attending Spelman College, an all-women’s Historically Black College in the South, I am energized to foster a disability-inclusive space on my campus that embodies the rich spirit of this cohort.

Before joining the AAPD community, I did not understand the power of disability community and how invigorating this space can be when fostered genuinely. Every person with a disability/disabilities deserves spaces where we care for one another, where thoughtful accommodations and supports are the default, and where we can bring our true selves to every space. I have found a disability community within AAPD, and this cohort taught me the importance and urgency of cultivating a similar disability community for others to experience.

“This summer has shown me firsthand the progress that is possible when access is prioritized, and the importance of utilizing the disability justice lens across disciplines.”

My summer internship has greatly broadened my perspective on what advocacy work can look like, and it has left me with a newfound confidence in my ability to bring people together to advocate for systemic change. While my field of work, Social Work, is deeply concerned with diversity, equity, and inclusion, disability issues are not discussed nearly often enough in the broader professional community, and as a result access barriers persist. My work with The Century Foundation’s Disability Economic Justice Collaborative this summer has shown me firsthand the progress that is possible when access is prioritized, and the importance of utilizing the disability justice lens across disciplines.

“As someone who has either experienced these issues firsthand or witnessed my disabled loved ones experience them, I am passionate about reforming the mental health system to become more inclusive of people who have both psychiatric and non-psychiatric disabilities.”

Despite 1 in 4 adults in the United States having some type of disability, according to the CDC, the mental health treatment field is frequently inaccessible or unaccommodating towards people who have both psychiatric and non-psychiatric disabilities. Mental health providers who are neither disabled nor disability-educated and don’t take public health insurance, which is the primary insurance for many people with disabilities, are common. Additionally, many therapy offices and psychiatric hospitals are physically inaccessible, and psychiatric hospital staff are usually not trained in how to assist people with non-psychiatric disabilities in activities of daily living. All of these issues can make it difficult, if not impossible, for people who have both psychiatric and non-psychiatric disabilities to receive the help they need. 

As someone who has either experienced these issues firsthand or witnessed my disabled loved ones experience them, I am passionate about reforming the mental health system to become more inclusive of people who have both psychiatric and non-psychiatric disabilities. I wish to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology so that I can help bridge the gap in mental health providers who understand disability, conduct research about people who have both psychiatric and non-psychiatric disabilities’ experiences in the mental health system (which is an extremely under-researched subject), and raise awareness of the struggles that people who have both both psychiatric and non-psychiatric disabilities face in receiving care.

Given that disability is an oppressed identity, which means that people with disabilities are more likely to experience mental health issues, they deserve to receive the treatment they need.

“Participating in the cohort affirmed how crucial it is that any efforts to improve the lives of disabled people bloom out of collectivity, wholeness, and interdependence, or in other words: community.”

Disability and sociality go hand in hand, whether through care work, communication access, public programs, or asking a passerby on the street to hold a door open; it is a network of mutuality. Although our backgrounds and experiences varied, participating in the summer cohort offered insight and understanding of our shared common ground, passions, and anxieties concerning access– to clean water and air, housing, healthcare, employment, and education. Leaders in leadership roles shared the day-to-day undermining of the ADA and disability-related legislature. Many more voices were not in the room but were amongst us. Participating in the cohort affirmed how crucial it is that any efforts to improve the lives of disabled people bloom out of collectivity, wholeness, and interdependence, or in other words: community.

A note from JS about not using a photo: As part of my artistic practice, I do not circulate images of myself online. This is precisely connected to a larger project on disability, ocularcentrism, and access. Please use this image for any outward-facing presentation.

“By advocating for systemic improvements, we can drive positive change in policies, attitudes, and societal perceptions surrounding disability.”

Belonging is a primary benefit of being in a disability community. It provides an opportunity to connect with individuals who have encountered similar challenges, fostering a supportive environment where one feels accepted. Exchanging experiences, advice, and emotional support becomes accessible within this community.

A disability community serves as a platform for empowerment and advocacy. Together, we amplify our voices, address shared concerns, and strive for societal change. Witnessing the transformative power of collective action, I have seen individuals with disabilities unite to promote equal rights, access, and opportunities for all. By advocating for systemic improvements, we can drive positive change in policies, attitudes, and societal perceptions surrounding disability.

Additionally, a disability community offers invaluable opportunities for personal growth and learning. Interacting with people who have diverse disabilities exposes us to a broad range of perspectives, experiences, and talents. This exposure nurtures empathy, expands our understanding of disability as a spectrum, and challenges preconceived notions or biases. Through dialogue and collaboration, we can learn from one another, celebrate differences, and work collectively towards a more inclusive society.

My internship cohort has profoundly influenced my perspective on the importance of finding a disability community. Connecting with fellow individuals with disabilities allows us to support one another, effect positive change, and create a more inclusive world. This experience has also highlighted the significance of intersectionality and the need to be seen as a person beyond one’s disability, especially in ableist spaces.

“After having spent so much of my life feeling like I needed to justify every need or experience, it was extraordinary to be able to show up and simply be.”

Before this internship, I never had access to an in-person disability community. Within the first week, such a community radically changed my perception of self and of community. The program became a space where you could talk about your life of your experiences and people would just get it. After having spent so much of my life feeling like I needed to justify every need or experience, it was extraordinary to be able to show up and simply be. It became a space where you could experience joy at our triumphs, frustration at injustice, Curiosity about advancement, and every other complex emotion in between.

“I am driven to learn what it takes to not only become an environmental professional, but also a diverse, disabled leader in this space.”

Nature has always fascinated me. It began with catching insects in my backyard and constructing miniature ecosystems in glass terrariums as a child, but has now led me to obtaining two bachelor degrees and candidacy for a masters, all within the natural sciences. Growing up, I learned about the modern environmental issues we face today; deforestation leading to the extinction of species, melting of glaciers leading to the decimation of our freshwater supplies, just to name a few. I am driven to learn what it takes to not only become an environmental professional, but also a diverse, disabled leader in this space. I plan to develop and implement science-based policy solutions, all while advocating with and for underserved communities. 

​​​​​​​But I didn’t always have the confidence to pursue these dreams. Growing up in an average suburban town in southwest Ohio, I lacked the positive disabled role models that I didn’t know I needed. Being raised in a traditional south asian household, my blindness was seen as a shameful disease to be cured. I internalized this mindset of shame, sitting in the back of the classroom to look like I was sighted, handwriting notes I could never actually read. This only changed when I started living in positive, disabled spaces such as the American Association of People with Disabilities. 

​​​​​​​The 2023 AAPD cohort has offered strong affinity, acceptance, and community. A community which not only promotes confidence, but challenges me to holistically think about and approach all types of issues. Communities like this are those that allow one to scope out of their own lived experiences, and live with others through shared ones. It is now in my adulthood that I evidently realize that it is community like this that have and will allow me to pursue my dreams.

“ I want to bring the skills and expertise I learned to other youth and young adults who may not have access to the tools.”

Working under the Office of Senator Tammy Duckworth has given me clarity on the work that I want to do and how to make those connections to implement change in my community and society. Even though I am taking constituent’s calls, I also get to attend Brown Bag lunches with different elected officials and attend training run by other representatives and senators under Capitol Hill. While my work outside AAPD is entirely different, I am under other organizations’ boards and co-founded a self-advocacy group for youth and young adults.

I want to bring the skills and expertise I learned to other youth and young adults who may not have access to the tools. Majority of my life, my mother has always advocated for me in various situations because I didn’t have the strength to ask for myself. Asking for accommodations and advocating for reasonable accommodations were things I couldn’t do at first without a lot of support, and because of this newfound community, I found, I don’t have to feel bad for asking for help.

Activism and advocacy gave me a purpose to bring real change into the world, even though it may take months or years. This internship also taught me patience. It introduced me not to hold myself back from seeking community and genuine connections that some may consider “unrealistic.” Even with the weight of the world, fighting for equality and liberation for all as an autistic person shouldn’t be discouraged and that’s what gave me confidence.

“Motivated by my passion, I am determined to create an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers individuals with disabilities and provides them with the opportunities they rightfully deserve.”

My internship cohort has significantly influenced my perspective on the importance of finding a disability community. The AAPD provided me with the opportunity to meet exceptional individuals from diverse backgrounds, allowing me to gain invaluable insights and reshape my understanding of people with disabilities different from my own. Witnessing our collective dedication to advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of community. As a result, my commitment to launching a nonprofit organization aimed to create a disability community in my local area has grown stronger. Motivated by my passion, I am determined to create an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers individuals with disabilities and provides them with the opportunities they rightfully deserve.

“I felt like an imposter all my life but AAPD helped me find my voice and advocate for myself.”

Brian shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

This reinvigorated my desire to pursue a doctoral degree. To create sustainable long-term change I think a PhD would be best suited to change the stigma surrounding mental health. I felt like an imposter all my life but AAPD helped me find my voice and advocate for myself.

“Building towards collective liberation and disability justice together, the reciprocal love and learning we shared felt revolutionary.”

Aubrianna shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“In community with other fierce disability activists, I have never felt more at home. I am truly grateful to have been given an opportunity to collectively learn, grow, heal, and dream. Building towards collective liberation and disability justice together, the reciprocal love and learning we shared felt revolutionary. I dream of being in community with more disability folks, to continue radiating radical care, expressing love through access, and sparking magical joy.

“Disability is more than a word: it is an identity, culture, term, and much more. It has opened the door to opportunities this summer.”

Mikayla shares how they see themself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program.

“Disability is more than a word: it is an identity, culture, term, and much more. It is a word that has opened the door to opportunities this summer. I laughed and cried through it all. This marks the end of my AAPD journey, and I have had one of the best summers in the capital. I am very grateful and thank God for this opportunity!”

“In social work we discuss a lot the importance of intersectionality, diversity and inclusion; however, sometimes we don’t highlight disabilities and I feel that it is my responsibility to bring my disabled community into every single conversation.”

Paula shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship program reinforced the work I want to do in the future regarding disability justice. In social work we discuss a lot the importance of intersectionality, diversity and inclusion; however, sometimes we don’t highlight disabilities and I feel that it is my responsibility to bring my disabled community into every single conversation. This experience also taught me that being open about the accommodations I need is a must for me to be fully present in any work setting. I learned to not feel guilt or shame when taking a day off to take care of myself or bringing my arsenal of medicines to the workplace.”

“Having community means having unconditional acceptance and a way to speak in “short hand” with people who have had similar experiences.”

Sandra shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“When I was born, having a disability was something to be ashamed of, and something to apologize for. Most of my 59 years have been spent feeling as though I needed to ignore how trying to “fit in” or be “normal” has taken a toll on me. I did not realize how exhausting this process has been. So, for me having community means having unconditional acceptance and a way to speak in “short hand” with people who have had similar experiences. This community has provided me a similar experience as when I transferred from a PWI to an HBCU.”

“My internship placement site allowed me to see a unique angle of federal government work that helped me refine my goals for the future…I am now more prepared to be a leader in the tech world while being a champion for accessibility.”

Jazmin shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

My internship placement site allowed me to see a unique angle of federal government work that helped me refine my goals for the future. Now that I know what it takes to offer your skills to such a special agency, I’m ready to arrange my future courses and skills so that they align with the steps that I need to take to get there! My sense and understanding of what it takes to stand out in a professional setting has evolved since the beginning of the summer, I am now more prepared to be a leader in the tech world while being a champion for accessibility! Finding my strengths in a professional setting while simultaneously learning more about advocacy through the AAPD Friday classes allowed for an integrated learning process that I got to apply every day in the workplace.

“I was able to get a broad scope of what it means to work in the federal government [and] understand the nuances that coincide with public service and experience them first hand.”

Kristen shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“This summer I was able to get a broad scope of what it means to work in the federal government which was the only career path I had really considered until this point. I was able to understand the nuances that coincide with public service and experience them first hand. My experience as a Microsoft STEM intern showed me that I can do meaningful work in the private sector as well.”

“Getting to work under a supervisor who was a fellow Black woman with a disability was amazing, and taught me so much about navigating the professional world. My network grew substantially into my areas of interest.”

Britney shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“I had no idea what to expect at the end of the summer with AAPD, but I couldn’t imagine all the ways my life would be impacted for the better. Getting to work under a supervisor who was a fellow Black woman with a disability was amazing, and taught me so much about navigating the professional world. My network grew substantially into my areas of interest, from both my placement site and from speakers who attended our orientation/advocacy classes. Having a resource filled group of peers and mentors makes me feel much more confident to re-enter the workforce once I complete my masters degree this fall.”

“Being an advocate isn’t something that they should look down on me for in journalism, but rather see as a useful and beneficial tool for the newsrooms and coverage of important issues.”

Shruti shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave them insight about their work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship program provided an incredible space for me to navigate my disabled identity and advocacy within my career of interest (journalism). It really felt like a perfect opportunity for my passions, interests, and identities to come together through every article I wrote for NPR. I was always told that I couldn’t be a journalist and an advocate, but this internship helped me counter that narrative. I now know how to navigate this field and how to show people that being an advocate isn’t something that they should look down on me for in journalism, but rather see as a useful and beneficial tool for the newsrooms and coverage of important issues.”

“AAPD really allowed me to feel strong in my own skin and ready to educate those around me. I feel prepared to address issues related to disability.”

Justin shares how they see themself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

Prior to this experience I was more reserved and scared to be placed in front or really explain my story. But throughout the semester with the help of AAPD and my cohort I learned to be able to feel comfortable being independent. AAPD really allowed me to feel strong in my own skin and ready to educate those around me. I feel prepared to address issues related to disability. I learned to not be afraid of speaking out because it could help so many people that come after me. Also how I should make sure I’m sharing the candy with my peers and those around me. Sharing the candy allows for everyone to find success because we’ll all be given opportunities.

“The program connected me to so many professionals working in Capitol Hill, health policy, and disability advocacy that it was rewarding to see that there are so many pathways to work on health and disability policy.”

Zandy shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship was a leap of faith for me. It was my first time working within the system (US Congress) rather than from an outside role as a researcher and advocate. It ended up being a really rewarding experience. It taught me a lot about professionalism, customer service, and public service. The program connected me to so many professionals working in Capitol Hill, health policy, and disability advocacy that it was rewarding to see that there are so many pathways to work on health and disability policy.”

Zandy shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship was a leap of faith for me. It was my first time working within the system (US Congress) rather than from an outside role as a researcher and advocate. It ended up being a really rewarding experience. It taught me a lot about professionalism, customer service, and public service. The program connected me to so many professionals working in Capitol Hill, health policy, and disability advocacy that it was rewarding to see that there are so many pathways to work on health and disability policy.”

“I learned that it’s not only about advocating for myself but it is also important to advocate for all people with disabilities.”

Ken shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

“I see myself being a leader in my community by spreading awareness about inclusion and independent living opportunities for people with disabilities. I learned that it’s not only about advocating for myself but it is also important to advocate for all people with disabilities.”

“Leaving the Summer Internship Program, I’ve come to give myself more credit for the labor I do, and identify myself as a leader.”

Súeli shares how they see themself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

“I struggled to see myself as a leader before the AAPD Summer Internship Program. I knew I was doing the work, but it just felt like what I had to do to survive. Leaving the Summer Internship Program, I’ve come to give myself more credit for the labor I do, and identify myself as a leader.”

“I latched onto a community of multi-generational cross-disability advocacy and culture that I hardly knew existed.”

Jack shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to him:

“The internship program showed me the diversity and resilience of the disability community by bringing together people with extraordinarily different lived experiences for a summer of deep connection, learning, significant growth, and fun experiences. Thanks to AAPD, I met and continue to keep in touch with people that I otherwise would never have met, and I latched onto a community of multi-generational cross-disability advocacy and culture that I hardly knew existed. As I navigate the world on this side of the Summer Internship Program, I see accessibility in a much more plural, structural way. I am grateful not only for that awareness but that I feel empowered with the knowledge and tools I need to create a more inclusive future.”

“I always saw myself as a leader, but now I have even more confidence because I have fully accepted myself and who I am. I am disabled and I’m proud of it.”

Michael shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

“I always saw myself as a leader, but now I have even more confidence because I have fully accepted myself and who I am. I am disabled and I’m proud of it. Now I can be a voice, a leader to a new generation of all people who struggle with their disabilities. I’ve learned that there are so many people to help for that’s what being a leader in our community means hearing the voiceless and fighting the good fight.”

“To me, a community is when people advocate and support each other, especially for those from marginalized communities with different identities, experiences, and backgrounds.”

Sheila shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“To me, a community is when people advocate and support each other, especially for those from marginalized communities with different identities, experiences, and backgrounds. Those individuals bring in valuable contributions to the community in order to create collective changes that benefit all of us.”

“Community listens when you speak, celebrates when you succeed, and supports you when you need it.”

Em shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“Community is diverse, it is accepting. It embraces and respects what makes you the person that you are. Community listens when you speak, celebrates when you succeed, and supports you when you need it.”

“While the Americans with Disabilities Act created a platform for me to fight for my rights, unfortunately universities define what my rights are.”

Bruno Matthew Arnold shares his full story about why the ADA is important to him:

“The Americans with Disabilities Act created a platform for me to fight for my rights, unfortunately, universities define what my rights are. Since starting university, I have faced many violations of my rights where professors sometimes just denied my accommodations and other times yelled at me for using them. The Student Disability Resource Center explained to professors my abilities and told them that anything more is not covered by the ADA. No matter the assignment or the disability you get seventy-two hours maximum as an extension. I have struggled in college to pass classes and at times I felt embarrassed for being held behind my peers for things that I could not control.

I feel empowered now that I have spoken to other disabled students in universities all over the country because it shows me that even the highest universities in the country aren’t getting this right. On the 31st anniversary of the ADA my hope is that we start to push back against universities who, from the start, fight against ADA regulations to save money. We have laws from K-12, but as soon as a person hits college the university gets to decide what accommodations are reasonable and what they will pay for. Oftentimes the primary focus of education is overshadowed by creating more profit. I feel empowered because every year since the ADA disability advocates have pushed the boundaries of discrimination within the university systems. Right now, we live in a time of higher education with a short ramp. My hope is that the phrase “Higher Education” in the future refers to the level of education you receive and not yet another barrier for people with disabilities to climb.”

“You maintain the right to fully exist, disabled, proud, and accommodated, weaving the aisles of Target, but the minute the red plastic basket morphs into an online cart, the accommodations mandate disappears.”

Katy Brennan shares her full story about why the ADA is important to her:

“Growing up in a post-ADA world, I felt fortunate to have the legal protections the law provides ingrained in me; it’s always been at the back of my mind, the law protects my right to exist fully as my authentic self. That mentality isn’t shared by older generations of disabled individuals, people like my grandmother who has been blind since she was a teenager. They grew up in a pre-ADA world where nothing was guaranteed. As the pandemic continues, that gap between my grandmother and me wears thin. While I maintain my headstrong, disabled, and proud persona, I have faced an increasing number of accessibility concerns, and in an online format, I’m left with few remedies. Even with the 2008 ADA amendments and recent court rules, the Internet is not acknowledged as a place of public accommodation. Captions, alt text, and screen reader compliance are viewed as luxurious add-ons rather than mandatory accommodations. You maintain the right to fully exist, disabled, proud, and accommodated, weaving the aisles of Target, but the minute the red plastic basket morphs into an online cart, the accommodation mandate disappears.

I dream of a future of universal design. Where the Internet is truly a space of opportunity instead of yet another barrier. This is possible. We must designate the Internet as a space of public accommodation, rather than yet another ableist private club through innovative policy or further amendments to the ADA; this universal design which is a given, or at least a legal mandate and protection, in person can easily extend to the Internet. Captioning, alt text, and all other accommodations which are sorely missing right now can easily become standard as platforms including Zoom make captions automatic (not to say Zoom captions are perfect). There is no reason not to mandate these accommodations. Until that day, I will remain in my corner, likely the only disabled person in the room, struggling to follow yet another uncaptioned call.”

“With the ADA, I do not live in constant fear when I think about getting a job because this act makes sure that my rights as a disabled person are protected.”

Vraj Patel shares his full story about why the ADA is important to him:

“It’s not my birthday, but I choose to celebrate the 31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act since it is just that important to me! With the ADA, I do not live in constant fear when I think about getting a job because this act makes sure that my rights as a disabled person are protected. I know that employers cannot discriminate against me in any part of the employment process and that I should be able to use the accommodations that work best for me at most job sites. Already, I have met examples of disabled professionals who benefit daily from the ADA. But, I now understand that the advocacy work is not done. I am getting more involved because we have come so far, but we have a long way to go.”

“My own struggles with accessibility as a person in a wheelchair would make it easy for me to write off the ADA altogether, but instead the ADA motivates me. It helps me imagine a future where big changes for disabled people can happen, because if it happened once, it can happen again.”

Elizabeth McCormick shares her full story about why the ADA is important to her:

“Like many young disabled activists, I have a relationship with the ADA that sometimes contradicts itself. My whole life, I have felt grateful that I am protected by the law. However, as I get older, my appreciation for the ADA has been coupled with frustration, realizing how much farther we actually have to go in order to achieve a world that is accessible for all.

My own struggles with accessibility as a person in a wheelchair would make it easy for me to write off the ADA altogether, but instead, the ADA motivates me. It helps me imagine a future where big changes for disabled people can happen because if it happened once, it can happen again. It reminds me that I have a right to be protected under the law and that I can work to expand those laws. The ADA has provided me a foundation that I am eager to build upon. For me, the ADA, IDEA, and Section 504 are the beginning, not the end. Because of this, I am motivated to move forward and create change that serves disabled people of ALL identities, not just those that are the most privileged.

I have faced many barriers in my life even with the ADA in place, but at the same time, the ADA is a large part of why I’ve been able to succeed and fight against those barriers. Because of the ADA, I can continue the fight for equality and expand upon the work of those who came before me.”

“Although the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) adopted some disability rights covered under the ADA, the U.S., unfortunately, is one of few countries that has not yet ratified the convention. As a result, this may impact many Americans with disabilities who work, travel or study abroad. Lack of accessibility abroad limits the educational, professional and recreational opportunities of disabled people.”

Gusti Budiarta shares his full story about why the ADA is important to him:

“Happy 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! 

For the past two years, I have been focusing on international disability rights, and I am proud of knowing the fact that ADA—the world’s first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities—has inspired many countries across the globe to have an international disability treaty. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (CRPD) came into force in 2006 and is the first international disability rights legislation. Although CRPD adopted some disability rights covered under the ADA, the U.S., unfortunately, is one of few countries that has not yet ratified the convention. As a result, this may impact many Americans with disabilities who work, travel or study abroad. Lack of accessibility abroad limits the educational, professional, and recreational opportunities of disabled people. Ratifying CRPD is a global commitment to recognize disability rights as universal rights, and to continue being a leader in the disability rights movement. In addition, ADA also benefits many migrants and refugees. As some areas in the U.S. are considered as sanctuary cities, there appears to be a need for more dissemination of ADA-related information among fellow refugees with disabilities.”

“Knowing I will obtain the accommodations I need to succeed in the workforce with the ADA, I feel like I can take on any job. With that said, the culture of an institution can always be a barrier.”

Jake Linn shares his full story about why the ADA is important to him:

“Knowing I will obtain the accommodations I need to succeed in the #workforce (ADA), I feel like I can take on any job. With that said, the culture of an institution can always be a barrier. In my lifetime, I hope more leaders will set an example to be more accepting for #PwD along with other marginalized groups. I’m so proud of my #disability and how far we’ve come with the #ADA, but I can’t wait for the day people will simply accept me for me. #Leaders take a stand!”

“While we are right to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the ADA as well as Disability Pride Month, we must also consider how we can strengthen and improve the ADA to better support our disabled brothers and sisters. So, lastly, the ADA also represents hope and opportunity for the change that is yet to come.”

Monica Mesecar shares her full story about why the ADA is important to her:

“To me, the Americans with Disabilities Act means recognition, and to some degree, liberation.

The passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act represents a major point in what can be considered the Disabilities Civil Rights Movement as detailed in the movie “Crip Camp”. Prior to the ADA, I feel like the disability community was largely ignored by society at large, given that there was very little legislation in place that sought to help us navigate an inaccessible world. Yet, with the passing of the ADA society was forced to recognize and include us. They could no longer pretend like we didn’t exist. Additionally, given that the ADA forced us to be included, it allowed us to more fully participate in society, freeing us from the constraints of inaccessibility. However, the ADA is far from perfect as much of our society still remains inaccessible to many. For this reason, while we are right to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the ADA as well as Disability Pride Month, we must also consider how we can strengthen and improve the ADA to better support our disabled brothers and sisters. So, lastly, the ADA also represents hope and opportunity for the change that is yet to come.”

* After submission, Monica noted that when she used the phrase ‘brothers and sisters’ it was not inclusive to all gender identities. She asked to include an apology for this oversight and commits to doing better to utilize more inclusive language in the future

“I never asked to be an advocate. I sort of just became one out of a need—of needing to advocate for my life and equal treatment. I didn’t want to be an advocate, I really just wanted to fit in.”

Rasheera Dopson shares her full advocacy story:

“My first encounter with advocacy happened by accident. If I am to be completely honest, I never asked to be an advocate. I sort of just became one out of a need—of needing to advocate for my life and equal treatment. I didn’t want to be an advocate, I really just wanted to fit in. I felt that standing up for myself made me different and as a disabled person I didn’t want to add onto the label I was already wearing. Nevertheless, I began to understand that advocacy was necessary and an important part of me coming to terms with my disability identity. I was 25 years old when I first said out loud to the world that I was a disabled black woman. That was five years ago and you know what it’s been a heck of a rollercoaster ever since.”

“When a child is diagnosed with a disability in their younger years, parents and teachers typically take the lead in advocacy through the education system. This is not always the most beneficial approach because as one grows up they become the best advocate for themselves.”

Danny Charney shares how disability policy has influenced his life:

“At the beginning of high school; I walked in as an unconfident and very stressed teenager, feeling like a burden on my peers. I was unsure if I’d be able to survive high school academically or socially. Throughout elementary and middle school I was tested for learning disabilities, given accommodations, and sat through countless Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings endlessly bored out of my mind. When I arrived to high school I started to learn and develop my own sense of advocacy, which according to the textbook definition is “an activity by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social institutions.”  I joined GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network), student government, and took ownership of my own academic future. Instead of letting my teachers, administrators, and my parents decide my accommodations, goals, and how best to meet them, I wanted to take more of a decisive role and better understand the policy behind my IEP! I spent time throughout my four years in high school researching and learning the ins-and-outs of how legislation such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed and what my rights were. This came to a culmination during my last few IEP meetings where I was empowered with the legislation and knowledge to be able to go into these meetings feeling confident and unafraid to demand what I needed to succeed. When a child is diagnosed with a disability in their younger years, parents and teachers typically take the lead in advocacy through the education system. This is not always the most beneficial approach because as one grows up they become the best advocate for themselves. Today, I am finishing my college career with a full understanding of how IDEA and similar legislation has empowered me to be my own advocate. At the end of college; I will walk out confident, educated, and unabashedly proud of my disability and knowledge on how I can best support myself.”

“I grew up knowing what IEPs and 504s meant, because I was always involved in decision making about how my school could best support my learning and growth.”

Naomi Hess shares how disability policy has influenced her life:

“I am a testament to the impact of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Due to the IDEA, I received a free and appropriate public education in schools that always welcomed me and accommodated my needs. I grew up knowing what IEPs and 504s meant, because I was always involved in decision-making about how my school could best support my learning and growth. Because I was able to flourish in the supportive environment of my public school, I am now a rising senior at Princeton University. I am fully aware that my high school and college success would not have been possible before the IDEA, when schools could exclude and discriminate against disabled students. This is just one example of how I’ve noticed public policy has impacted my life by directly creating more opportunities for success and inclusion.”

“I learned advocacy revolves around actively listening to marginalized communities that are often neglected and excluded from the conversation altogether.”

Jennifer Lee shares her full advocacy story:

“Truth be told, my advocacy journey originally began in Asian American activism, one that was rooted in my lifelong identity as a proud Korean American woman. However, everything changed in June 2020, the summer that I came face to face with the very prospect of what it meant to be disabled. Just over a year ago now, in the midst of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Upon countless months of hospitalizations, surgeries, and treatments, learning about my new autoimmune condition shifted the very foundations of my life as I knew it. 

Since then, advocacy has been perhaps the most powerful tool to come out of my chronic illness diagnosis. I find myself incredibly empowered by my fellow youth leaders in the IBD space, changing the game for chronic illness patients and proving that invisible diseases are equally valid in the conversation of disability justice. Today, I serve as a 2021 International Fellow with the Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adult Network, as well as a member of the National Council of College Leaders with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. This summer, I’m proud to be an intern with the American Association of People with Disabilities, advocating for disability visibility in the Senate as a legislative intern; as the saying goes, nothing about us without us.  

Moreover, as an undergraduate student at Princeton University, I learned that advocacy revolves around actively listening to marginalized communities that are often neglected and excluded from the conversation altogether. On campus, I’m so grateful to serve as the incoming president of Princeton University’s Disability Collective, a student-run disability support network, as well as a member of our Undergraduate Student Government’s Disability Task Force. Ultimately, my advocacy efforts are ingrained with the belief that the disability community deserves a seat at any table where decisions are being made — that their stories deserve to be amplified, such that their words not be fettered into any one corner. Every day, I speak up for the ones who are grappling with their own diagnoses, the ones who are fighting their own hidden battles, all in the hopes of lifting up the voices that are silenced and unheard. Especially as a woman of color, my goal is to champion intersectionality in any and all avenues of advocacy, proving that it is indeed possible to care about both disability and Asian American issues.

My advocacy journey is far from over; even 31 years after the passing of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act, there still exists an extraordinary amount of work left to be done. Nevertheless, I know that the fight will continue, with my fellow AAPD interns leading the way as the emerging advocates of the disability community. In fact, this is just the beginning.”

“The basic security of the ACA is a huge relief for many college students, but it’s not enough. We need to dream bigger.”

Courtney Felle shares how disability policy has influenced her life:

“Welcome to the ACA Generation! Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, disability advocates have started talking about the ADA Generation: young people who grew up expecting the basic protections and rights of the ADA, who are now imagining what comes next. 

But within this ADA Generation, there’s another group of disabled and chronically ill activists starting to graduate college and enter the professional adult world: the ACA Generation. 

I was in fifth grade when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010. I grew up relying on the protections of the ACA, unable to personally remember a time without it. I was on my mother’s health insurance plan, and I could expect to stay on it until I turned 26, after I graduated college and got settled in early adulthood. I could expect to find relatively affordable health insurance despite my “pre-existing condition.” I know not everyone my age had the same experience, especially those who grew up uninsured or with only unstable insurance. That’s still all too common an experience, even with the slight gains of the ACA (which technically started as a conservative proposal to defend private markets, regardless of patient needs).  

But the ACA changed public discussion and expectations of health insurance access and cost.

Amidst legal attempts to overturn the ACA, I came across a quote online that has stuck with me: “Pre-existing conditions” only exist in the United States. The rest of the world just calls that medical history. And, increasingly, young people in the United States are taking for granted this same principle: care for everyone, for every need they may have. The basic security of the ACA is a huge relief for many college students, but it’s not enough. We need to dream bigger. I want to see universal, affordable (if not free) health insurance in my lifetime. For ourselves, and for all the generations that follow.”

“We shared thoughts. We created a plan. We listened. We were creative. We collaborated. Most importantly, we took action.”

Justin Tsang shares his full advocacy story:

“I first learned about advocacy during California’s Youth Organizing Summit back in 2017. Many of the participants in the summit were between 13-24 years of age, and we are all people with disabilities. When my small group discussed the barriers that affected us and others in the disability community, I learned what advocacy was for the first time. We shared thoughts. We created a plan. We listened. We were creative. We collaborated. Most importantly, we took action. When I went to college years later, I knew how important it was to advocate for my needs and those of my peers who also had disabilities. For example, myself and other students with disabilities helped advocate for a new elevator to replace the frequently broken one. Advocacy has been a large piece of my life, and it has helped shaped the way I work with others in the disability community and the general public.”

“I learned how to not just advocate for my needs, and the needs of my classmates, but also my community. Calling attention to things like bad transportation practices, a shortage of Counselors, and that they couldn’t keep excluding us just because we weren’t something sexy like sports or greek life.”

Elayne Otstot shares her full advocacy story:

“I would say that my actual experience with advocacy was while I was at UT Arlington, and it was really one of those situations where you learn by doing. I had just gotten all of my paperwork together to get accommodations for a learning disorder and was starting to get weekly emails from the Office for Students with Disabilities. They were looking for someone to serve on the President’s Roundtable, which was basically a student government version of something like the United Nations where policies and items were presented to the various student organizations, student government, by the university President and staff, then deliberated on once a month during a semester.

I had known about things like patient advocates etc thanks to what I was studying in my public health classes, but I didn’t know a whole lot about disability advocacy or even government or policy at the time and there just weren’t a lot of resources available to me in particular that I knew about. Eventually, I replied to the email and said I was interested in participating, figuring it would be a good public health experience if anything and I could do it for a semester and then do something else. It quickly became a crash course in advocacy 101 with late-night text messages back and forth with friends like Lydia. Asking how something works, or where I could get more information about something else.

The originally planned single semester quickly turned into my last two years at UT Arlington. During my time with the President’s Roundtable, I learned how to not just advocate for my needs, and the needs of my classmates, but also my community. Calling attention to things like bad transportation practices, a shortage of Counselors, and that they couldn’t keep excluding us just because we weren’t something sexy like sports or greek life or something that brought in the big donors like engineering and computer science.”

“I think we all advocate one way or another even though we may not realize it. It does not always require big action to make changes. Small steps can lead to great change.” 

Cat Romero shares her full advocacy story:

“When it comes to the word “advocacy,” there are mixed reactions. Some think it is exhausting, while others make it their life’s work out of necessity. I think we all advocate one way or another even though we may not realize it. It does not always require big action to make changes. Small steps can lead to great change. My advocacy work began when a friend shared her personal story of being a deaf child in the foster care system in middle school. Naturally, I did not try to change the entire foster care system in middle school. However, just by listening and giving her the space to share her story, we were able to share her heavy emotional burden just for a few moments. This is when I realized listening can be as powerful as joining a protest. When we allow other people to share their stories, we are creating a welcoming space for them to feel validated and less alone. It also moved me into finding a career in social justice. I was introduced to a whole new injustice and realized there were many more experiences to be heard, injustices to uncover. Advocacy does not have to be hard. It is community work. It is a daily thing. We all are in this together. Our burden is too much for one person to handle alone. Let’s be accountable for each other’s burdens and create the future we desire.”

Being diagnosed as a teenager meant discovering my priorities as far as how I wanted to spend my energy. It also showed me the limited exposure people my age had when it came to disability. I don’t blame them though, because I would have not known either. An idea that my mom had while we were in the hospital was to order purple awareness bracelets that I could handout at school. Coincidentally, I was diagnosed at the end of April and May is Lupus AwarenessMonth. From the beginning, I didn’t shy away from being honest about how I was feeling or how I was affected by my diagnosis. Receiving a diagnosis within the time frame I did is uncommon with autoimmune disorders, as they can be hard to pinpoint due to the variety of symptoms. Acknowledging the privilege I had to receive medical care is important to me, because I know that others have gone years without answers and having their concerns dismissed. I have had seven years to become comfortable with speaking up for myself, and feel a responsibility to

support others to do the same. By encouraging people to take up space that they deserve, I’m hopeful that no other little kids will need to prove their conditions and that the world will be better equipped to give them what they need before they have to ask.”

“Anyone can be an advocate in many different forms and can ask themselves “what can I change about my community?” then work towards it.”

Sarit Cahana shares her full advocacy story:

“I first learned about advocacy out of necessity when I didn’t get the accommodations I needed in High School. Teachers treated my IEP (Individualized Education Plan) accommodations as optional. When I talked to my caseworker about it, he told me that I needed self-advocacy skills. This would have been really helpful, but he did not help me with those skills nor did he hold my teachers accountable. At the end of Junior year, I was encouraged to sign away my IEP and spent Senior Year with no protections.

That year, a teacher of mine had our class do an assignment answering, “What would you change about your community?” I slowly realized that I deserved better all these years in accessing my education. I started spending time in my inaccessible classrooms writing down all the ways I would make my school more accessible. I created a presentation for this class about this topic in front of my non-disabled peers and they really enjoyed hearing what I had to say. This brought me to continue advocating to the administration of the school and the district as well. From there, I haven’t stopped! 

Advocacy has taken time, trial, and error. I ended up gaining strong self-advocacy skills and I still have trouble getting the accommodations I need. Advocacy can look like telling someone you need the captions turned on, to protesting, to meeting with your Senator. Anyone can be an advocate in many different forms and can ask themselves “what would you change about your community?” and work towards it.”

“Since elementary school, I learned to advocate for myself and for local organizations. At that same time, I became more aware of the many no’s directed toward me. For example, I could not be tested for gifted and talented education (GATE) because test questions were visual; I am totally blind. […] My taking and passing the test made me realize advocacy can and does bring about change if persistent enough.”

Karen Arcos shares her full advocacy story:

“Since elementary school, I learned to advocate for myself and for local organizations, including a nonprofit school called Blind Children’s Center (BCC). At that same time, I became more aware of the many no’s directed toward me. For example, I could not be tested for gifted and talented education (GATE) because test questions were visual; I am totally blind. As my mother sought out resources, I constantly heard her stating I was capable of taking the test. My taking and passing the test made me realize advocacy can and does bring about change if persistent enough. I share these experiences when advocating for BCC’s impact, including during one speaking engagement as a high school senior pictured here.”

View a video of Karen at the Blind Children’s Center: https://youtu.be/Eay5AdxwFrw

“Disabled voices need to be uplifted so society can be more inclusive overall.”

Kelly Moh shares her full advocacy story:

“I was fortunate to not have many issues with receiving the necessary accommodations I needed for my disability in elementary and middle school; however, once I entered high school I found that I needed to advocate more for myself. Some teachers neglected my accommodations, requiring me to learn how to speak up and express my needs. Although this experience was frustrating and exhausting at times, it has shown me the importance of advocacy for the rights of disabled people which often get overlooked. I am continuing to explore my identity as a disabled Asian woman and appreciate how my experiences so far have shaped my desire to work with other people with disabilities to further our visibility and access. Disabled voices need to be uplifted so society can be more inclusive overall.”

“Guardianship deprives people with disabilities of their rights as human beings. If we are to ensure the autonomy and independence of the disability community, then we must abolish guardianship on a national basis.”

Lou Paniccioli shares about disability policy he’d like to see changed:

“In order for there to be systemic change there must be a change in an existing policy or the creation of a new policy altogether. A policy that I want to see created is the abolishment of Guardianship otherwise known as conservatorship. Guardianship in a which a person if declared or perceived to be mentally incompetent by a court of law the individual in turn would be deprived of his or her rights including their rights to property and to vote. Guardianship deprives people with disabilities of their rights as human beings. If we are to ensure the autonomy and independence of the disability community then we must abolish guardianship on a national basis.”

“As a young Black girl with ADHD I was seen as a troublemaker, and often found myself in the principal’s office, even for things that weren’t necessarily my fault. […] I learned advocacy at a young age because otherwise I would have been written off as a menace, yet simultaneously denied the support that I needed since I was an academically strong student.”

Jaelyn Evans shares her full advocacy story:

“I’ve advocated in several different mediums throughout my life. My first experience with self advocacy was in elementary school. As a young Black girl with ADHD I was seen as a troublemaker, and often found myself in the principal’s office, even for things that weren’t necessarily my fault. Before calling my parents I was questioned thoroughly and had to defend myself. When we finally sat down for my accommodations meeting, both my mother and I had to advocate to receive the tools that I needed to succeed. I learned advocacy at a young age because otherwise I would have been written off as a menace, yet simultaneously denied the support that I needed since I was an academically strong student. This passion for advocacy has followed me throughout my life as I find myself advocating not only for myself, but for others whether it be on the Black Student Union or as Student Government President. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in policy work in order to fight for the rights of marginalized people.”

“I was born a Latina with an intellectual disability and have faced many challenges due to my race, gender, and disability. Even though I am very proud of these traits, the challenges associated with these traits have developed my passion to be an advocate.”

Fermina Lopez shares her full advocacy story:

“Advocacy has become a very important part of my life. I was born a Latina with an intellectual disability and have faced many challenges due to my race, gender, and disability. Even though I am very proud of these traits, the challenges associated with these traits have developed my passion to be an advocate. I have had to learn how to advocate for myself at a very young age. I come from a strong supportive family. My dad has always taught me how to speak up for myself, so I will be prepared when I face challenges alone. My real journey as an advocate started my senior year in high school when I was being denied financial assistance for college. At first, I was upset and hurt and almost gave up but then I started to think about all the self-advocacy lessons I learned in my life. I got myself together and started contacting all the right agencies to help me advocate for college. I won my battle and I knew then that I did not want what happened to me to happen to other people with disabilities so I started helping other students with disabilities to connect with programs that would help them apply to college and provide financial support. 

Having the opportunity to be an intern with the AAPD has been a great opportunity and has strengthened my passion for helping people with disabilities. AAPD has given me new ideas on how to be a more professional advocate. The program has also taught me about current issues that have a negative impact on the disability community and what I can do as an advocate to make changes to these negative barriers.”

“By encouraging people to take up space that they deserve, I’m hopeful that no other little kids will need to prove their conditions and that the world will be better equipped to give them what they need before they have to ask.”

Kristin Kumagawa shares her full advocacy story:

“I was first exposed to advocacy when I found myself needing to explain my condition to classmates and teachers in middle school. I was diagnosed with lupus in the middle of seventh grade, where I missed two weeks of school. Although It was a short period of time, my life felt flipped upside down as I was learning to navigate my new normal. I returned to school slathered in sunscreen and wearing various hats, as I am photosensitive and was on the tail end of a flare-up which emphasized my symptoms. My teachers were notified of why I was absent and the new accommodations that were recommended by my doctor in the form of a 504 Plan.

However, that didn’t stop people from questioning why I was allowed to break dress code by wearing a hat or having a computer to take my notes. One instance that frustrates me to this day is when I was stopped by a parent aide who monitored recesses. I was walking through the hallway during lunch when I heard someone calling out for me to come over. She then proceeded to berate me for wearing a hat when I wasn’t supposed to. Having just come back to school from the hospital, I had a paper copy of my 504, whichI pulled out for her to see. Despite my insisting that I was allowed to wear a hat because of my medical condition and having physical proof, she wouldn’t believe me because I didn’t look sick. I ended up crying out of frustration, and she finally left me alone with a warning. While it was a horrible experience, it gave me insight as to how I would need to navigate the world as someone with an “invisible” disorder. I became more determined to understand my rights because I didn’t like the feeling of not knowing what to say when questioned.”

“My 504 plan had a provision which formally asked my teachers to give me printouts of the information that was written on the board and it worked. I had the information literally at my fingertips. I could study independently just because of a single section from a piece of legislation that was written nearly 50 years ago.”

Jonas Bryson shares how disability policy has influenced his life:

“I was born with a visual impairment. I remember when I was younger, I’d sit closer to the TV and would get frustrated when I was asked to watch movies and TV shows from the couch because I would always miss out on the little details that I literally could not make out from that distance. But I didn’t know any other reality, so I just kept it to myself. Fast forward a few years and as I was diagnosed with my visual impairment and started to understand more about myself, it all started to make sense. I learned how to better advocate for my needs as a person with a disability.

So, when I went to school, I benefited from a 504 Plan. This is a federal program which seeks to help kids with disabilities in a general classroom environment. I had several accommodations, one of them involving the white board. Because of my vision, I wouldn’t be able to see it from across the room, sometimes even if I sat near the front of the class, just like watching movies from the couch except now my grades were at stake. For this reason, my 504 Plan had a provision which formally asked my teachers to give me printouts of the info that was written up on the board and it worked. I could now follow along like everyone else instead of having to guess what the teacher wrote or ask for clarification every two seconds or rely on a friend’s notes after class every day just because of a disability that I was born with. I had the information literally at my fingertips. I could independently study because of a single section from a piece of legislation that was written nearly 50 years ago. This was just one policy, but it helped so much.

From then on, I worked harder than I ever did because I didn’t feel as behind as I used to, I didn’t feel as lost. This sense of control led me to really appreciate the power of education and, in a broader sense, equity. To this day, I’m grateful to the Section 504 program for giving me the opportunity to succeed. I graduated from college last semester and I hope that I can serve as an advocate for others in the future because I know that even though these policies are on the books, they are often not properly funded or enforced, especially in marginalized communities. Every child deserves a fair shot and policies like Section 504 are there to help make this ideal a reality.”

“I advocated for myself to get accommodations so that I would no longer let being slow and distractible affect my ability to succeed and demonstrate my skills and abilities accurately in terms of grades.”

Deanna Yadollahi shares their advocacy story: 

“When I was a junior in high school, I self-identified with a mental illness we were learning about in psychology class. It made sense why I had difficulty in and out of the classroom settings, that led to being misunderstood by my peers and teachers, even my family. Why was I always late to school, between classes, why was I slower? It all made sense. I advocated for myself to get accommodations so that I would no longer let being slow and distractible affect my ability to succeed and demonstrate my skills and abilities accurately in terms of grades. I always got decent grades, but they weren’t reflective of my true potential because I wasn’t making the time crunch. And so, I led my school team meetings and accommodations. That wasn’t the first time I learned about advocacy, but it was the most memorable time I got to practice it for myself.”

“As the first in my family to attain a higher education, I know I can either use my education to insulate myself from the problems of the world or become a force to address them. I wholeheartedly choose the latter; advocacy is the perfect channel to accomplish that.”

Pearl Zhang shares her story of when she first learned about advocacy:

“My story of advocacy began in my first year of college, when I took a class called Environmental Justice, where I learned about concepts such as greenwashing, environmental racism, and food deserts. This class exposed me to instances of inequity, injustice, and inequality which disproportionately affect members of the most marginalized communities. As part of the capstone project for the course, I interviewed residents of Chester, PA, where I learned about their first hand experiences living under hazardous air pollution. A majority of residents spoke about their asthma, which exposed me to the interconnections between disability justice and environmental justice. As the first in my family to attain a higher education, I know I can either use my education to insulate myself from the problems of the world or become a force to address them. I wholeheartedly choose the latter; advocacy is the perfect channel to accomplish that.”

“Because of the ADA, I am able to have my rights protected, preserved, furthered, and valued not only as an individual with a disability but as an overall human being.”

Lou Paniccioli shares his full story about why the ADA is important to him:

“Because of the ADA I am able to have my rights protected, preserved, furthered and valued not only as an individual with a disability but as an overall human being. While in school it always took me longer on test and I had work ten times harder than my peers. The ADA guarantees me the right to the same quality of education with the proper accommodations insuring my success and protecting me from discrimination within our educational system. However, we as people with disabilities still have a long way to go to fully and directly integrate the entire disability community into every aspect of society throughout the world. Nonetheless we can state with both full confidence and conviction that because of the ADA the foundations of the progress that we can continue to make to this very day have been firmly established and shall continue to propel us forward for years to come.”

“The accommodations I need don’t always match the assumptions many people have about accessibility.”

Courtney Felle shares her full story about why the ADA is important to her:

“Happy 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! As a college student with a chronic illness, I’m pretty thankful for the protections of the ADA.

The accommodations I need don’t always match the assumptions many people have about “accessibility.” It’s often difficult for me to carry things, even things that an able-bodied person wouldn’t consider heavy. If I can store belongings in a class building or workspace, that’s an accommodation. If I can use a laptop in class to access eBooks and type notes, instead of having to carry extra books and notebooks, that’s an accommodation.

At some universities, it’s a fight to even get basic accommodations under the ADA. Thankfully, I’ve been lucky at my college: though the disability services office isn’t perfect, administrators do take me seriously and try to help as much as they can. Having this basic safety allowed me to dream bigger. What would it mean to not only have accommodations, but to have my ideal accommodations?

As we reflect on the ADA’s history and its future, I find myself wanting two main things:

1. Strengthening the ADA and holding colleges and businesses accountable to ADA standards
2. Normalizing accommodations beyond the scope of the ADA and pushing for even fuller inclusion of people with disabilities in all spheres of life

We need to ensure that the world is accessible and welcoming to people of all ability levels. So, please, let’s make it happen!”

“Because of the ADA, I received accessible formats for all class materials as well as proper accommodations from professors so that I could achieve my fullest potential.”

Shirley Carrillo shares her full story about why the ADA is important to her:

“Because of the ADA, I received an EQUAL opportunity to pursue my higher education. I double-majored and graduated with two Bachelors of Arts degrees. I received accessible formats for all class materials as well as proper accommodations from professors so that I could achieve my fullest potential. My accommodations contributed to me reaching my goal of graduating with honors. I also was able to participate in extracurricular activities by fulfilling leadership roles in organizations on campus. Knowledge is power, I am grateful and honored to be a young, Hispanic, and visually impaired woman, who accomplished one of her biggest dreams because the ADA ensured I would be protected to earn a higher education and open many possibilities for my future aspirations.”

“ADA is looking out for people with disabilities in the workforce. It should be seen as a source for empowerment to tell your story, without fear of rejection. The employers who see you beyond your disability are the ones you want to work for.”

Kyra Beckish shares her full story about why the ADA is important to her:

“Let’s be honest: applying for jobs is the worst. Trying to make yourself seem like the perfect candidate on a piece of paper and an interview is difficult as is. Doing it all with a disability isn’t any better. The fear of discrimination due to a disability is real. The Americans with Disabilities Act is intended to ease that fear.

When applying to be an RA, this issue became very real. I was hired without talking about my epilepsy too much, but I knew I had to tell my supervisor in case anything happened. I was scared that she would think I was incapable to handle the position.

I couldn’t be more wrong. She smiled, thanked me for telling her, and reassured me that it didn’t matter. I was hired for a reason, and my disability could never get in the way of that. She accepted me as I was and was proud of me for being brave.

The moral of this story is that the ADA is looking out for people with disabilities in the workforce. It should be seen as a source for empowerment to tell your story, without fear of rejection. The employers who see you beyond your disability are the ones you want to work for.”

“I learned that the ADA is more than just a law. It outlines basic requirements that force people to think about their attitudes towards people with disabilities and why compliance with reasonable accommodations is important.”

Nadia Bon shares her full story about why the ADA is important to her:

“As a result of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I was afforded the opportunity to graduate with distinction from Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences and enjoy a full college experience. Cornell is a private university so it is covered by Title III of the ADA which prohibits discrimination for people with disabilities in private entities with public accommodations, including restaurants, theaters, schools, and doctors offices. During my time at Cornell, as required by the ADA, I received reasonable accommodations including transportation to and from classes using a van, and a note-taker to assist me in my classes. This made it easier for me to focus on my academics, especially because I knew that I would be able to get to classes during Ithaca’s snowy winters! I was grateful for the note-taking service which allowed me to enjoy lectures without worrying about writing down every word. In addition to the physical accommodations, the ADA also gave me confidence to request universal accommodations. One instance of this was when I explained to my genetics professor how the Iclicker questions (a device that allows the whole class to answer a question at the same time) were too fast for me to read and answer accurately. He encouraged me to discuss this with the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education to bring the problem to the forefront. I was empowered as a person with a disability and learned I can make a difference for others with disabilities. I also learned that people in positions of power will listen to your struggles if you speak up. This was an important lesson as I am no longer as intimidated when speaking to those in authority.

Another valuable life lesson I learned from my time at Cornell, as supported by the ADA, was the importance of finding a community of people with similar values. I was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and served on the Dean’s Advisory Board which helped me expand my leadership skills. However, I did not discover the joy of being a leader in the disability community until I was introduced to this community in the ILR school. Through my Employment and Disability, and Global Comparative Disability Policy classes I learned how disability impacted employment, the power of the Disability Rights Movement, and how the medical and social models impact people with disabilities. I gained a new respect for disability activism because I was able to see how activism is about more than fighting injustice – it is about changing attitudes in society. This helped me find my own niche in the disability community. It also inspired me to study Disability History to learn how discrimination against people with disabilities occurred throughout history and how disability activism was prominent in certain disability groups, especially the Deaf and Blind communities in nineteenth-century America. Little did I know that I would  expand my knowledge even more through my study abroad program.

The ADA also provided me with an opportunity to learn how disability laws began, and are enforced in other cultures, during my Junior year studying at Oxford University. Cornell’s abroad office was amazing and made sure I received the same accommodations in Oxford that I had at Cornell. I met beforehand with several liaisons at Oxford including the Academic Director and the Head of Disability Services. Without the support of the ADA, I would have been concerned that such meetings would hinder my chances of being accepted into the program. Knowing that I had basic rights as a result of the ADA, and that the abroad office at Cornell was willing to help troubleshoot any problems, reassured me and helped me make the most of my experience at Oxford. While there, I took part in producing a video encouraging other students with disabilities to apply to the University and wrote a blog about my travels. Through my experiences at Oxford and Cornell, I learned that the ADA is more than just a law. It outlines basic requirements that force people to think about their attitudes towards people with disabilities and why compliance with reasonable accommodations is important. In short, the ADA not only helps people with disabilities like me integrate into society – it makes us better people.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had any real issues with public accommodations being accessible to me, which doesn’t seem like much, until one realizes what that truly means: my visual impairment does not hold me back as much as it would’ve just 30 years ago. I cannot begin to describe how empowering that feels.”

Jonas Bryson shares his story of why the ADA is important to him:

“Because of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I have been able to live a happy and healthy life in school, on public transportation, in hotels and restaurants, and so on. I am so grateful to have had all of these wonderful opportunities to be able to succeed in the workforce and in my own personal life, all because of this bill which was passed only 30 years ago. To illustrate this, I don’t think I’ve ever had any real issues with public accommodations being accessible to me, which doesn’t seem like much, until one realizes what that truly means: my visual impairment does not hold me back as much as it would’ve just 30 years ago. I cannot begin to describe how empowering that feels. If the ADA were to work 100% effectively, nobody would notice it because everybody would have access to the critical services that they need, regardless of the cards that they were dealt at birth. It’s easy to take this idea for granted, because most people realize now that this is the way things ought to be, but I have learned that we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. The ADA wasn’t always the law of the land: it was fought for. And over time it has been and will continue to be adapted because of regular people constantly fighting for an even brighter future. I want to help make that brighter future a reality.”

“As a disabled person with multiple intersecting identities, my advocacy has been enforced and highlighted through my knowledge. I’ve learned that I need to not only understand my rights as a person of color, but also my rights as someone with a disability and my rights as a female.”

Verlencia Somuah shares when she first learned about advocacy:

“I first learned about advocacy through my education systems. When I was first diagnosed with a vision impairment I did not know who would be there to support me while still achieving the goals I had set for myself. The people in my education systems had the access and resources to advocate for me to receive accommodations making things accessible for me. I also had a support system of friends and family members that were willing to assist me as well. While this is not always the case, I think it’s really important for us to utilize the people around us who have access and even when they’re not willing to, have the education to know who we can reach out to. For me as a disabled person with multiple intersecting identities my advocacy has been enforced and highlighted through my knowledge. I’ve learned that I need to not only understand my rights as a person of color, my rights as someone with a disability and my rights as a female. All of these policies and the information back how I advocate not only for myself but for people similar to me in the disability community. Through my experiences and my gained education I have learned that my knowledge is my power and through that I’m able to advocate at greater heights than I would without that knowledge.”

“Learning about advocacy meant facing the harsh truth of ableism and discrimination at a young age.  It meant riding on a segregated school bus all throughout middle and high school, dreaming about how I could make the world different for future students with disabilities.”

Alma Silver shares when she first learned about advocacy:

“Learning about advocacy meant facing the harsh truth of ableism and discrimination at a young age.  It meant riding on a segregated school bus all throughout middle and high school, dreaming about how I could make the world different for future students with disabilities.  But from a place of resistance and pain, advocacy grew into a bedrock of strength, determination, and hope.  As I finish my college degree, my passion for advocacy drives me to continuously learn and grow, to be better and do better.  It drives me to listen, connect, and engage with the unheard stories that need to be told to foster a truly inclusive world.  #DisabledandProud #Advocacy”

“(Advocacy) means that others with learning challenges like I have grown up with can also have a chance to be properly represented and have their voices heard.”

Kendall Moore Jr. shares when he first learned about advocacy:

“I believe the first time I heard of Disability Advocacy was during the Rising Leadership Academy conference, now called the Disability:In conference. For me it at least means that others with learning challenges like I have grown up with can also have a chance to be properly represented and have their voices heard. In my case, it also was comforting to know that there were companies out there more than happy to hire those with disabilities. I found it interesting to know that companies can and should be able to accommodate those with disabilities, but I’ve never been able to figure out what my accommodation would be, if needed, given that my disability is mostly a learning disability, and might not always be obvious unless you know what to look for. It’s really made me wonder just what kind of accommodations I could be granted in the workplace much like how someone with a wheelchair could have a ramp, or a blind person could be given Braille on office signs or the like.”

“At a young age, I learned how to describe the impact of having a disability and tell others my hope for a more inclusive future.”

Naomi Hess shares when she first learned about advocacy:

“I first learned about advocacy when I was the Maryland Muscular Dystrophy Association Ambassador from 2011 to 2013. I traveled around the state speaking about MDA and sharing my story. I even testified in the Maryland legislature in favor of Fill the Boot, a fundraiser by firefighters where they line streets and hold out their boot to collect money for MDA!  In the past ten years, Team Naomi raised $80,000 for MDA, much of which goes toward funding treatments and sending children to MDA summer camp. My experience as MDA Ambassador gave me valuable self-advocacy, fundraising, and public speaking skills that remain with me to this day. At a young age, I learned how to describe the impact of having a disability and tell others my hope for a more inclusive future. My time as MDA Ambassador motivated me to seek out a career in helping people with disabilities such as myself.‬”

“I didn’t know my voice could be heard and the impact that it could have, and so it empowered me to continue.”

Jake Linn shares his story when he first learned about advocacy in the video below. CW: suicide, mental health

“This ability to communicate my story, be vulnerable and open to listen to others, and be unapologetic when advocating for justice is so powerful and important to my journey, growth, and community building.”

Fanisee Bias shares her story when she first learned about advocacy:

“Advocacy is one of my favorite words, actions, and life skills. One of the first times I ever learned about advocacy and had to practice it was throughout junior high and high school creating a 504 plan for myself. My gut reaction to it was not the best feelings; I was nervous, I was intimidated, I was confused, and I felt like my “extra” needs were a burden. I wondered if everyone had to go through this exhaustive yet crucial process to get their accessibility needs met, but then I realized due to my new diagnosis (starting in junior high) that my new norm would be different, unique, and require more advocacy than ever. I used to rely on my mom to speak up for me, fight for me, and help me navigate society with my specific needs, but, fortunately, in hindsight, that had to change. She would challenge me to tell my physical therapist what was working for me; she challenged me to call and make my own doctor’s appointments; she challenged me to be my full authentic self and speak on the injustice myself and the disabled community face by sharing my experiences. This ability to communicate my story, be vulnerable and open to listen to others, and be unapologetic when advocating for justice is so powerful and important to my journey, growth, and community building.

Since then, advocacy has brought me to an abundance of opportunities where I can fight for myself, my community, and the solidarity within others. I love to work with people to their lived experiences. With that, my knowledge of government and social structures/systems is essential to my future in advocacy. I can only use my voice so far, and I am eager to get into policymaking to make a difference on a broader level. Being a black, Latina, white, disabled, young woman, I want to be able to show representation in my community and across the nation with my identities, even though they are historically marginalized. I want to be able to be a resource for people whether that’s knowing their rights or needing someone to support them.”

“While growing up, I realized that if I saw an injustice or something I wanted changed, I had to show up and actively make an effort to be a part of the activity to demand change.”

Danny Charney shares his story of when he first learned about advocacy:

“I grew up in the San Francisco bay area in California on an island named Alameda. I remember being very young and being brought to rallies and protests in Berkeley California because my parents wanted to instill in me a sense of caring about movements that’s bigger than myself, whether that’s LGBTQ rights or the long lasting struggle for black lives. I remember while growing up, realizing that if I saw an injustice or something I wanted changed, I had to show up and actively make an effort to be a part of the activity to demand change. This meant I couldn’t stand silently and idly by while different minoritized groups were being discriminated against, I had to show up and protest. Today, I have started to learn and use social media to expand my advocacy in order to hear from and to reach more people. The more educated I can become, the better ability I have to use my privilege to speak up for other marginalized identities around me.”