When Sarah first arrived at our Hub this summer, it was a hard morning.
She walked in with tears in her eyes. Being nonverbal, she often carries her feelings quietly, but that day she picked up a pen and poured them out on paper:
She wants to work in a children’s hospital.
She dreams of her own apartment.
She longs for people to see her potential.
All the things so many young adults want—but for Sarah, those dreams are too often clouded by being underestimated.
A Quiet Connection
That same morning, Sherry was with us. Sherry, who also lives with autism, graduated from our Leadership Incubator at Ursinus College last summer. This year, she returned as a teaching assistant—a role she embraced with grace and strength.
When Sherry noticed Sarah’s tears, she didn’t hesitate. She simply sat beside her. No speeches. No pressure. Just presence.
Then she offered to teach Sarah how to weave a sleeping mat for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Side by side, they worked. Little by little, the tears faded. By the afternoon, Sarah’s quiet sadness had shifted into a smile. She left carrying something even more powerful than words: the gift of being seen.
The Power of Being Seen
That’s what inclusion looks like. It’s not always big or loud. Sometimes it’s as simple as one young woman saying without words, I get you.
At Integrate for Good, these moments don’t just happen by chance. They happen because young leaders like Sherry are given opportunities to step up—and because supporters like you believe in this work.
We need more spaces where young adults with disabilities are valued, empowered, and invited to lead.
