As a child, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. The daily pain and decrease of my physical abilities has given me a deep empathy and compassion for all people with disabilities. While I always knew wanted to help others, studying and working in speech-language pathology has developed my passion for disability rights. Currently, I am majoring in speech-language pathology with a concentration on ethics & leadership in healthcare at the University of Texas at Austin. I will use my education to help people with communication disorders through speech-language therapy and by pushing for meaningful legislation surrounding healthcare policy.
When I received my diagnosis, I was too young to comprehend the profound impact Rheumatoid Arthritis would have on my life. As the disease progressed, I lost the ability to play sports and keep up with my peers. As a young adult, I lost my ability to quickly write, type, and walk across campus. Over the past year, I have lost my ability to talk, eat, and sleeping without pain or difficulty. I will receive double jaw joint replacements this December to compensate for the deterioration of my jaw. Though I have lost some abilities and many others have changed, my disability has given me the unique ability to empathize with people with communication disorders, and emboldened my passion to advocate for those that cannot speak for themselves.
As a college freshman, I joined the National Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA), and began volunteering at a local non-profit speech therapy clinic, which serves under-insured stroke survivors. I developed a deep passion for helping people with communication disorders regain their speech, confidence, and social skills. A year later, I am now the service director of the NSSLHA, and I coordinate all NSSHLA student volunteers with the non-profit. Working with the clients has shown me the deep inequities that exist within our healthcare system. Beneficial treatments like physical, occupational, and speech therapy are often unavailable to low-income individuals. Strokes are the number one cause of disability in this country. I want to advocate for people with communication disorders, especially stroke survivors, so they can receive the treatment they deserve and ultimately reclaim their hobbies, jobs, and lives.
In addition to my elected position as NSSLHA service chair, I am a member of Disability Advocacy Student Coalition. This group of students raises awareness for problems faced by students with disabilities, and fights campus legislation to improve the status of disabled persons on campus. I am also a member of Texans with Autoimmune Diseases, a student organization that focuses on the struggles faced by students balancing health issues and academics.
As a clinical speech-language pathologist I will give people with communication disorders their voice back. With my clinical experience and concentration in the healthcare ethics and leadership, I will gain the tools to affect meaningful change healthcare policy. Throughout my disease, I have excelled academically and personally. I should be selected for the AAHD scholarship committee because I have turned a painful and debilitating experience into a way to help others succeed. My disability has pushed me to become a better student, a better person, and a better advocate for other people with disabilities.