Why we care...
Brooke: These inherited cognitive and intellectual disabilities personally motivate me to make a difference. My aunt is a speech- language pathologist, and she works specifically with children who live with Fragile X Syndrome. She sees how this overlooked syndrome affects families, and her stories are truly heartbreaking. I want to help make a change. By learning about these disabilities, we can better help the people affected. No one's lives should be inhibited by disabilities, especially if there are ways we can help.
Sarah: After hearing the testimonies of people with cognitive and intellectual diseases, I was inspired. It is upsetting that people would discriminate against them, especially against something they can't control. It motivated me to make a difference. If we can spread the word about these children's' struggles and their inspiring stories, more people will understand what they are going through and discrimination will decrease.
Marlee: Being disabled does not mean that you should be treated differently. Upon hearing a TED talk on Progeria, I was touched by the story of a young high schooler that had the disease, but he did not let it define him. I believe that every child should be able to carry out their dreams without being inhibited by a label that someone else has put on them. Reading the inspirational stories of others has made me want to make a change in my community and improve upon the equalities in life for those with disabilities.