READ > LEAD > ACHIEVE
How Books Bridge the Gap Books are more than collections of words and pages. They are powerful tools for sharing ideas, inspiring change and opening the doors to new worlds of possibility. California Delta KATIE MAYO understands this power firsthand. Before graduating high school, Katie wrote and published “ABCs for Including Those with Special Needs”—a children’s book which moves through the alphabet teaching kids how to make every child feel included, cared for and accepted. For Katie, books—especially children’s books—are the best way to make meaningful change in the disability rights movement. “If you can influence kids and get them engaged at a young age, it will help erase the stereotypes of disabilities." Katie’s passion for supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) began in sixth grade when she was placed in a physical education class for kids with special needs. As the only student without an IDD, Katie admits she experienced frustration, which became the starting point for her desire to change these attitudes—in herself and in others. She soon found herself
wanting to see her classmates learn and succeed and saw her own perceptions of her peers start to change. “I surprised myself with my ability to connect with my peers—students who I initially felt were vastly different from me,” she says. “I noticed there was a gap between those with and without disabilities. So, I wanted to start by making our school and classroom more inclusive and then, hopefully, spur change in the community.” What started as a class placement became an entry point to a passion which changed Katie’s life. Since sixth grade, Katie’s passion for helping students with disabilities has only grown. In high school, she founded her school’s chapter of Best Buddies—a program aimed toward connecting abled students and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities through forming friendships and fostering individual growth. Katie continued her involvement with the organization and was recently selected to serve as a Best Buddies Ambassador for the state of California. However, it was her time on Best Buddies Young Leaders Council (YLC) which made the biggest impact.
Katie (right) with her Best Buddy Guillermo (middle) after winning Best Buddies Chapter of the Year.
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