Before her senior year, Avari attended an engineering program at Cal Berkeley, where she realized her unique dyslexic strengths. While her peers struggled to conceptualize a prototype, a 3D model formed effortlessly in her mind, but explaining it felt like […]

Izzy is pursuing a combined bachelor’s and master’s program in Occupational Therapy. Born non-speaking and diagnosed with autism at two years old, her journey has been deeply shaped by her siblings, who are also autistic and have high support needs. […]

For Eleanor, the library was a childhood sanctuary, not just for escapism but for the chance to see the world through different perspectives. Drawn to realistic fiction, she connected deeply with characters who shared their unique way of experiencing life. […]

Born a fighter, Emma faced challenges even before taking her first breath. A prenatal stroke led to multiple learning and physical disabilities, including ADHD, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, and a visual impairment. Despite these obstacles, she has continuously defied expectations, proving […]

Pursuing a major in Mathematics with coursework in Data Science and International Relations, Alexandra is driven by a passion for building accessible, inclusive systems that meet diverse needs. Diagnosed with ADHD at ten, she vividly recalls her assessment, the relief […]

Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Katherine has navigated a journey shaped by her early struggles with dyslexia. Diagnosed in the second grade after difficulty distinguishing math symbols and vowels, she transferred to a school specializing in learning differences, where […]

Jacquelyn was diagnosed with dyslexia at age nine and dyscalculia at 14, making her school experience challenging and, at times, traumatic. Like many in the learning disability community, she faced skepticism from educators who doubted her need for accommodations because […]

Growing up in Texas, Max often felt like a puzzle piece from the wrong box, struggling to find the words to describe feelings of confusion, loneliness, and frustration. Coming out as a trans man was difficult, and at the same […]

Growing up, Sree often felt caught in a paradox—facing challenges yet not always feeling like they fit the traditional definition of disability. It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he finally received a diagnosis of high-functioning autism. […]

While studying education, Hana encountered a term that deeply resonated: twice exceptionality. Learning that it was possible to have both significant disabilities and extraordinary intellectual or artistic abilities, she recognized herself in the definition. This realization led her to extensive […]