Most people see the stage, the blazer, and the confident speeches.
What they don’t see is how much it takes to stand there.
What I wish people understood is this: being a student leader with a disability doesn’t come with fewer expectations. It often comes with more — more scrutiny, more second-guessing, more pressure to “prove” you belong.
We like to think discrimination doesn’t happen to student leaders — especially not in programs that celebrate leadership, equity, and inclusion.
But it does. Often, it comes from within ourselves too.
In just the past two years, I’ve seen three state-level student leaders from CTSOs (Career Technical Student Organizations) face targeted exclusion or removal because of disability-related challenges. Two of them were removed from their positions. And I’m not even talking about what happened to me earlier this spring.
When students like me run for office, we don’t just face the public. We sometimes face doubts from our own families — the quiet fear that we’re putting too much on ourselves. I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked, “Is this really worth it?”
The answer? Yes. Because representation is worth it. Because inclusive leadership isn’t just nice — it’s necessary.
How CTE Changed My Life
CTE (Career and Technical Education) is one of the only spaces where I ever felt like I truly fit. In many ways, it is team-based and interactive. All of that makes it a lifeline for neurodivergent students.
In a traditional classroom, I often felt like I was playing catch-up and easily distracted. But in my CTE classes, things made sense. I could problem-solve, connect with real-world work. My differences weren’t disadvantages — they were assets.
That’s the magic of CTE — it gives students like us space to thrive.
But even with that foundation, being a national officer hasn’t been easy.
When I decided to run for Nationals, I had to give up in-person classes because my college didn’t support the time away. I learn best in person. Choosing to switch to online just so I could represent students like me on a national level — that wasn’t a glamorous leadership decision. It was a sacrifice. And it was stressful.
Let’s Talk About DEI (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)
Every time a conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) comes up, I feel the room shift.
I feel eyes on me — or maybe it’s just the pressure I put on myself.
The pressure to explain that DEI isn’t just about affirmative action.
It’s not about handing out titles.
It’s not about placing people with disabilities into roles they’re not prepared for because they have “special circumstances.”
Sometimes I feel like a checklist.
Sometimes I feel like an exception.
Sometimes I feel like I’m not “enough” of anything — not enough of a traditional leader, not visibly disabled enough to “count”
That’s impostor syndrome. And for disabled leaders, it’s very real. We are overthinkers by nature.
What I Need You to Know
Leadership for students with disabilities is not about “overcoming.”
It’s about navigating.
It’s about staying.
It’s about showing up anyway.
If you’re a student leader who feels unseen or uninvited to the table, I see you. We are working on advocating for better policy and protections, and honestly, just a better understanding of our needs.
I want you to know,
You belong here.
You are enough.
And you’re not alone.
Message me anytime. I mean that.
Let’s build something better – together!