I recently had the most exciting experience participating in the Think College Policy Advocate Program. It meant so much to me, that I asked Think College to share all that I learned in this blog post. After attending the Think College Policy Advocate Program there is now no doubt in my mind that I want to dedicate my life to advocating for people with disabilities and learning about policy.
Personally, my experience with disability comes from a unique perspective, because I was not born disabled. I live with an acquired intellectual disability. I underwent surgery for seizures after I was diagnosed with medication refractory epilepsy in 2016. As a result of my surgery, I now live interdependent because of this disability. I have severe significant deficits in reading, writing, comprehension and memory.
Professionally, my experience with disability is just beginning. While attending The College of New Jersey Career and Community Studies Program (CCS) I learned about the Think College Policy Advocate Program co-hosted with AUCD. I applied to the program because I have an interest in policy and advocacy. I wanted to learn more about legislation and government and how I could advocate for more inclusion in college and to support the IPSE programs that have brought so much into my life and to learn more about advocacy in general. I had an opportunity to learn so much during the zoom meetings from September to March. The trainings were about advocacy, policy, government and making appointments with legislators. Each of these zoom meetings was taught by Liz Weintraub, Denise Rozell and Caroline Jurisich.
After all the valuable online training, I was so excited to arrive in Washington, DC and meet everyone finally in person. When we got to DC we had 2 days of training in the Microsoft Innovation and Policy Center office. We had guest speakers: Rylin Rodgers, who is the disability policy director at Microsoft and Michael Gamel McCormick, who was a former senate staffer. I took away many valuable lessons from the training and asked people questions about how to get involved in advocacy such a keep trying and never give up, the biggest untapped market for employers in the disability community, and the best way to make a change is by having a group of people supporting that cause.
While I was meeting with Senator Andy Kim and staff members of Cory Booker and staffers of other committees, I was so nervous, but also so excited. Going to Capitol Hill was one of my most important accomplishments to date. I shared my experience being in an inclusive postsecondary education program, how much it has added to my life and how much it adds to my friendsas well. Also. I talked about my future goals and even Medicaid. I know I started off slowly at first because my nerves had gotten to me but by the last meeting, I felt so confident and encouraged. The staffers and Senator I met with listened to my story. It made me feel as If I could change the world for people with disabilities. I was so excited by the experience. It was at this time that I thought to myself, there is no doubt in my mind that advocacy is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.