About Us
Mission, Vision, Values
The Neurodiversity Alliance's mission is to build a community of leaders committed to celebrating neurodiversity and mobilizing for disability justice. The Neurodiversity Alliance is a national club network of high school and college neurodivergent students and our allies. We are student-led, advisor-supported, and powered by Eye to Eye. At the Neurodiversity Alliance, we:
- envision an equitable and liberatory education system that centers teaching and learning around the individual strengths, needs, and goals of students.
- strive for transformative change that centers the vision and leadership of those most impacted by inequitable systems.
- embrace an anti-ableist world in which neurodivergent individuals feel seen, heard, valued, connected in the community, and mobilized to act.
Meet the Team
It's a point of pride for us: The ND Alliance is run by and for people who learn differently and their allies.
Adrian Martinez
Neurodiversity Alliance Director
Adrian (He/They) is the Neurodiversity Alliance Director at Eye to Eye. Adrian is a transgender, disabled Xicanx person who brings their whole self to the work. Adrian is an organizer, musician, educator, and leader who began community organizing in 2004. They are eager to bring their experience organizing locally and nationally across social justice movements to Eye to Eye. Before joining the E2E team, they worked at MediaJustice, mobilizing a national network of organizations, spent time as an LGBTQ Engagement and Policy Advocate at ACLU SoCal, and did statewide organizing with the Transgender Law Center, Basic Rights Oregon, and the Oregon Student Association. Their work is rooted in the principles of disability justice. They hold a B.A. in Religion from Vanguard University of Southern California. When not working remotely, they like to play drums, honor their ancestors, care for their cat, and get into “good trouble.”
As a neurodivergent transgender, disabled person, Adrian knows firsthand how education can harm, hinder, and shame students that are different. They believe in education justice and that every person should have access to quality education regardless of who they are or where they live. Students should be free to be their whole selves inside and outside the classroom and they are excited to build power with students nationally.
Adrian’s favorite part of the job is working with and for neurodiverse students and their allies!
Favorite Quote
In every community, we need a group of angelic troublemakers, people willing to stand up and speak out against injustice” —Bayard Rustin
Mike Aronsson
Neurodiversity Alliance Organizer
Michael (he/him/his) is ADHD and Dyslexic with other language-based learning differences. Over the past several years, Michael has worked on electoral, candidate, and issue-based campaigns across the country. His most recent political experience was as a Deputy Organizing Director with the Colorado Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign during the 2022 midterm elections. The issue-based campaigns spanned from environmental, pro-choice, and criminal justice reform. Michael’s approach prioritized building relationships, coalitions, and following the lead of the communities he was organizing with. He also has worked in marketing and neuro-inclusion consulting. Michael received a B.A. in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College. One of the things that made ND Alliance stand out is how it centers intersectionality and disability justice. During his spare time, he likes working out, running, hiking, going to museums, and video games.
Why is this work important to me?
Ultimately, this work is important to me because it’s about working towards advancing a more equitable, inclusive, and just society that embraces the different ways people live, learn, and work.
Alexandra Claeys
Originally from Seattle, WA, Alex served an Eye to Eye Chapter Leader at Gonzaga University. After graduating from Gonzaga with a BS in Sociology, Alex joined the University of Portland’s Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education (PACE) and taught third grade in Salt Lake City for two years while working towards a Masters of Arts in Teaching, before joining Eye to Eye. Alex is a self-proclaimed foodie who loves to hike, ski, travel, and spend time with her friends and family.
Favorite Quote
We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all of the power we need inside ourselves already." —J.K. Rowling
Why this Work is Important To Me
As a student, I often struggled in school and felt very alone. Eye to Eye helped me find others who have shared similar experiences, and I became proud to embrace my own unique learning difference. I hope to help students realize that they have a community within Eye to Eye and can be proud of their learning style.
Favorite Part of My Job
Getting to know people from all over the country and learning about each person’s unique educational journey.
Join the Team!
At Eye to Eye, we are passionate individuals who are inspired by our mission and motivated to advance educational equity for the 1 in 5 who learn differently. For us, it’s more than just a job. As the only national mentoring, training, outreach and advocacy organization founded by and for people who learn differently, we set an example of inclusivity. We are best when learning from each other, bringing our diverse ideas, talents, stories, and perspectives to fuel collaboration and drive our work to empower students to fully embrace their own unique strengths and gifts as well.
Does that sound like you? Check out our current openings!