Our wonderful intern, Sha Lee, has been a great help this spring. She joined us through the Civic Engagement and Service Learning program, focusing on equity and social justice, at UMass Amherst’s Mount Ida Campus. UMass administrators reached out to UOD to participate in this internship program as a mission-aligned organization.

Sha will graduate this May, majoring in Community Education and Social Change and minoring in Sociology. Her career goal is to work with youth, support their leadership development, and conduct advocacy work. She is passionate about giving back and continuing to educate herself and the community on social justice issues, drawing from her personal experience with disability. Please read about Sha’s story below:

“The importance of educating others on understanding and being an ally for people with disabilities hits home for me. During my childhood at an orphanage in China, I was diagnosed with rickets, so I couldn’t walk. At times, I felt powerless because I was confined in my cribs at the orphanage. However, I understand that way of thinking is not the best approach. Once I got surgery, a whole narrative came to my mind about how I must appreciate the new life of becoming able to do things. Over my years in America, I learned to embrace and enjoy my experiences with physical disability, fully allowing me to empathize and recognize how important accessibility is for people with disability. As a result, I took on the opportunity through Mount Ida’s Civic Engagement Program to participate in the Understanding Our Differences mission. 

“Therefore, Understanding Our Differences promotes the message that people with physical disabilities are different but important to society. The mission of inclusion and being an ally is a core part of UOD. I adopted the same mindset about the significance of being an ally and inclusive of everyone’s differences. I have two unique perspectives about disability, and my personal experiences with physical disability taught me accessibility and kindness are essential for appreciating my own differences and others’. Through this internship, I learned children, adults, and everyone alike can be taught we can all be allies for people with disabilities. As I supported programming throughout Melrose and afterschool care all over Newton, the children’s enthusiasm and interests in treating people with disability as their friends are quite empowering.”