We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Barcellona. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.
Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
I first came up with the idea for my nonprofit – Ability Beyond Disabilities when I was in middle school. I was bullied a lot for having autism and I wanted to make a difference, so I posted a bunch of positive notes on my bullies lockers, stuff like “I love your hair today” and “You’re really smart!”. One of my teachers liked the idea and said I should make something out of it, and Ability Beyond Disabilities was born. I’ve been advocating for autism rights since the age of 12 and my nonprofit became official in 2021.
Rachel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I got into my industry because I have autism myself, and I really wanted to make a difference for others like me. Through my nonprofit, I wanted to offer a variety of services that our community misses out on, such as the opportunity for jobs, insurance, a chance to learn about independence, etc. I found that it was very important to offer these services to all ages, since autism doesn’t just end at 18. What sets me apart from others is that I take into account the entire population, and that so many older autistics are discovering themselves. They’re the ones who will need these services the most.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I was diagnosed with autism when I was 3 and I can clearly remember the doctors telling my mom that I would never accomplish anything in life. Ever since then, I worked hard to be the best person I could be, because I wanted to make something of myself! I went through several therapies, such as occupational, music, and speech/language therapy to help me be the person I am today, and all of those were really difficult, but this is just one story that shows my resilience. I never gave up, and kept going so I could help motivate others.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My particular goal is to motivate people in my community, but also inspire people as well. I always get comments that I’m very inspirational and that I give them hope for their autistic child, and that is my ultimate goal. I want to show autistic and non-autistic people alike that nothing can stop them, they can start a nonprofit, or just follow their dreams in general!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelbarcellona.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbarcellonaxo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelability
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-barcellona-935351189/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcellonaR
Image Credits
4th image – Austin Ryde