During the Lead Forward Fellowship, I have learned a lot about myself, including my values, my openness to change, and my capacity to engage in challenging conversations. Immersing myself fully into this experience allowed me to understand the extent of the barriers Disabled students face and the harmful effects those barriers cause. Without this journey, I would not have grown as greatly as a leader, a listener, and a community member. To that end, I would like to emphasize that the voices of Disabled students deserve to be heard, accessibility deserves more funding and priority, and active listening is one of the most powerful tools for learning. Assumptions, no matter how well-intentioned, can lead to harm and delay progress. Finally, always remember that true change begins with each of us.

As I conclude my year as a Lead Forward Fellow, I wanted to take time to thank my project partner, Francis Corvin, for showing me the importance of aligning change with the values of the community, taking time to share educational videos and articles, and for offering compassion as I continued to grow. I truly valued our experience together, and you have taught me life lessons that I will carry with me forever. I am also grateful for my impact project mentors, Dr. Rosanne Altstatt and Jessi-Alex Brandon, for our thoughtful conversations and your tireless support toward this initiative. To Dr. Adam Watkins, Dr. Shaunta Scroggins, and Tania Pliego Torres, thank you for allowing me to participate in this fellowship and supporting my development as a leader. Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Disabled Student Union for sharing their personal experiences with inaccessibility and educating myself and others on how we can create change.