I recently received an email from Ms. Gabriela McCall Delgado, a woman, who has created a website, We Connect Now, which was designed to unite students with disabilities to access higher education. I had never heard of this organization, but I went to the website and browsed it. I have to say, there are some very inspirational stories on the site.

Many children, teens, and young adults, have disabilities that impact their academic access, and can affect their ability to reach their goals. Some disabilities are visually apparent, and others are not. Nonetheless, they are present in the daily lives of these individuals. Being different and/or being perceived as being different not only presents academic difficulties, it can affect an individual’s self-esteem, peer relations, lead to feelings of shame, sadness, and stigmatization. It can also lead to discrimination. I have worked with with many individuals who have disabilities and are experiencing emotional difficulties due to the difficulties they face in school, at home, or in their social lives. I never minimize their challenges, but it is important to be able to provide resources for support.

There is no doubt that disabilities create challenges for those affected; however, with adequate resources and support, people with disabilities can lead fulfilling and inspiring lives. One thing that I really liked about this website is reading the inspirational stories contributed by different people.

Although the website is geared towards people in higher education, I think the stories can be inspirational for children and teens as well. If you are interested in reading some of the stories, or accessing it for support, please visit the website.