Join us in celebrating the next generation of leaders in the making. Our fellowship program, dedicated to empowering college students and recent graduates with disabilities, equips participants with crucial professional skills and fosters their leadership potential!

Thanks to the generous support from Macys, we’re excited to welcome 10 new fellows this spring:

 

Erica Mones (she/her)

Erica Mones (she/her) is a writer and disability advocate with cerebral palsy. She earned a bachelor’s in writing and classical civilizations from Loyola University Maryland and a master’s in disability studies from CUNY School of Professional Studies. She hopes to be a screenwriter in order to improve representation of disabled people.

 

 

 

Maisie Kramer (she/her)

Maisie Kramer (she/her/hers pronouns) currently works as a paraprofessional with sixth through eighth graders at the Roland Hayes (formerly Heath) School in Brookline, MA. She was born and raised in Brookline and lives there to this day. She graduated summa cum laude from Clark University in May of 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Her career goal is to research and develop public policy that promotes equality for marginalized groups. In her free time, she loves to read and explore Boston with her friends.

 

 

Dallas (he/him)

A dedicated 23-year-old with developmental disabilities, I am committed to becoming a systematic legislative advocate for the neurodivergent and disability community. Embracing inclusion and teamwork, I eagerly collaborate with diverse individuals to amplify our collective voice.

Through self-advocacy skills development and ongoing education, I aspire to navigate legislative processes effectively. Mentored by seasoned advocates and allied with supportive networks, I aim to champion issues like accessibility, inclusive education, and civil rights. With a passion for staying informed and a drive to create positive change, I am determined to empower and uplift the voices of my community on the legislative stage.

 

Brigid (she/her)

Brigid is an incoming Masters of Public Health student at UCLA where she will focus on community health sciences. She is currently living in Boston where got her undergraduate degree from Boston University in Japanese language and literature, and has since worked and volunteered with disabled and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth in the local community. In her spare time, she does taekwondo, is an avid reader, and loves to spend afternoons with her cat, Boshi.

 

 

 

Sebastien Janelle (he/him)

Sebastien Janelle is a 4th-year student in the UI Reach Program and he is from Ankeny, IA. He likes to hang out with his friends and loves to cook around the kitchen and watch movies. He is a hard worker and a great leader. He enjoys making everyone happy and making memories that make him smile.

 

Sophia Saleeby (She/her)

Sophia Saleeby is a freshman at Villanova University pursuing a double major in honors biology and Spanish studies. She is from St. Louis, Missouri, and has future career plans of becoming a physician. Sophia is passionate about increasing support and opportunities in STEM for students with disabilities. She is also passionate about intersecting culture and promoting cultural awareness with STEM, especially medicine. In her free time, Sophia likes to bake, knit, and play golf and ultimate frisbee.

 

 

Abe Shapiro

Originally from Los Angeles, California, Abe Shapiro graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2020 with a bachelor’s in history. During his junior and senior years of college, Abe founded and served as the first President of the Neurodiversity Coalition, an organization advocating for the provision of academic and social resources for students and faculty with neurological differences. In 2021, the Neurodiversity Coalition was the recipient of Indiana University’s inaugural Student Organization Advocacy Work Award and the Indiana University Division of Student Affairs Diversity Inclusion and Social Justice Award. From 2020-2023, Abe taught at the Bloomington Indiana affiliate of CIP Worldwide, an organization committed to helping persons on the autism spectrum find a path to a college education and their place in the workforce. Today, Abe hosts Disabulletin, the first all-disability news program on WFHB News Bloomington Radio, which communicates the latest headlines in disability news across the country and around the world. He is also currently part of Loyola Marymount Law School’s 2022-2023 Coelho Law Center Fellowship. Through this fellowship, Abe’s goal is to work on developing policies to benefit the disability community, strengthen primary research skills, make professional connections, and set a plan for his future advocacy career. Abe loves a good book, cooking a good recipe, lifting weights, and cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers!

Jessica Huang (She/her)

Jessica is a junior at St. Francis College majoring in psychology and minoring in Communications on campus she is the Vice President of the Psychology Club and works with administration to improve campus accessibility. Since September, Jessica has worked on campus as a Peer Leader mentoring freshmen through the first year of college. Upon graduation, she aims to pursue her MSW with a concentration in policy to advocate for those with disabilities. Outside of school, Jessica enjoys watching Disney+ and trying new restaurants.

 

Ewidji Vincent (He/him)

Ewidji is currently attending Inclusive Education classes under the MAICEI program at Umass Boston. He graduated high school with an honor roll and is very excited to start his official credits next year. He wants to be a lawyer in the future to advocate for people with disabilities and to prevent gun violence. He also has a passion for acting and would love to be an actor one day.

In his free time he sits on the PYD Youth Advisory Council. On this council, members talk about how they can best support their peers and speak up when change is needed. He also received the spirit award from PYD in February 2024. His role models are his mother, Obama, and Brad Lomax. He is funny, smart, and open to trying new things. He is excited to be a 2024 Dinah FB Cohen DREAM fellow!