Session Description:
Our work in early childhood plays a crucial role in the trajectory of the young students we support. In fact, it is our job to set the foundation for each and every child, and their families, to belong and thrive within their communities. In our closing session, you'll hear directly from youth and young adults with disabilities as they reflect on their educational journeys with you. This panel of young men and women, will share the challenges they faced, the successes they celebrated, and the educational professionals who supported them in reaching their full potential. This session will invite us to consider how we can cultivate systems change for young children with disabilities, while making individual impacts along the way by presuming competence, setting high expectations, and challenging beliefs that limit opportunities. Let's move forward together by learning from those with lived experience, examining our own ableist assumptions about disability, and committing to an unapologetic value system & culture of belonging.
About the Panelists:
Morgan Moussa is currently a sophomore at the University of South Carolina and enrolled in the LIFE program. Alongside her studies, she is an active member of the ADPi sorority and serves as an Orientation Leader where she helps new students transition into university life. Before her university journey, Morgan graduated from Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, SC, where she took on various leadership roles as a class representative on the Student Council, a member of the Homecoming Court, and the team manager for the girls' varsity tennis team. She was honored to receive the "Do It Right" award for three consecutive years and the "Most Dedicated" award in her senior year. Her achievements were further recognized with college scholarships: the Phyllis H. Faircloth Scholarship and the F3 Fort Mill Community Scholarship. In addition to her studies and extracurricular activities, Morgan works part-time at A Little Happy store. She is passionate about her future career in education and is committed to supporting children with special needs in their learning journey.
Zoe Wingard is a Junior at Orangeburg Preparatory School in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Living with mosaic Down syndrome, she has been advocating for her own education success since elementary school and has taken an active role in her school meetings since middle school. Over the last 7 years, she has spoken to multiple general and special education college students about the importance of keeping expectations high and not judging someone’s abilities based off their disability. She has also presented at Grand Rounds at Prisma Health and several state conferences. One of her favorite subjects in school is Science. Zoe has placed in her school science fair every year since 3rd grade; has been selected to compete at the SCISA state level for the majority of those years; and has taken home 3 wins at the state level. Zoe is one of the Water Girls for her Varsity Football team and has danced with a local dance troop for 15 years. She is an Ambassador in her local Girl Scout troop and received her Silver Award in Girl Scouts as a Cadette through her video series, How to Improve Your Social Awareness. This project led to her passion of social media vlogging and broadcasting which she hopes to pursue after High School.
Gabe Pizzo has called Spartanburg, South Carolina home for the past two years. Having lived in four different states and attended six schools throughout his K-12 education, Gabe brings a unique perspective on adaptability and community. Currently serving as an Equip Leader with Able SC, Gabe is passionate about advocacy, recently publishing an article in The Greenville Daily News highlighting the importance of accessible transportation. Looking ahead, Gabe is excited to deepen his impact by working directly with the consumers that Able SC serves, continuing to champion inclusion and accessibility.
Andrew Hancock is a 17-year-old senior at River Bluff High School in Lexington, South Carolina. Growing up with hearing loss since the age of four, Andrew understands the importance of inclusion and the challenges that can come with making connections. Despite these challenges, he has pursued his passions and achieved significant milestones. Andrew plays basketball and has gained valuable work experience through his position at Able SC, along with two internships—one at The State newspaper and another in law. Passionate about advocacy and inclusion, Andrew is excited to share his journey and insights with others.
Braden Green is a native of Columbia, SC, a recent graduate of AC Flora High School, and a current Freshman at the University of South Carolina majoring in Computer Engineering. Braden was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth and is currently managing his illness while attending college. He is the inspiration behind the nonprofit organization, The B Strong Group, that spreads awareness about sickle disease. He has spent a lot of years helping the nonprofit with planning, volunteering, helping with social media content, and sharing his story through interviews with local media and on social media. He loves all sports, especially professional basketball. football and of course, ALL Gamecock sports. He also enjoys drawing, painting, and gaming. He also likes spending time with his family and friends.