I’m Alexandra Nicklas and I’m the founder and president of the Different & Able Foundation. Different & Able is an online support platform that provides free access to individuals with a variety of differences. Differences can include physical, learning, speech, emotional, and medical. Our aim is to empower these individuals to help them live the best life, and most able life, they can. We provide dynamic self-help, as well as resources for leading professionals and researchers. At Different & Able here we use the word “difference” instead of the word “disability.” We believe that the word “difference” helps to emphasize an individual’s abilities rather than their inabilities. I started Different & Able because as a child I was faced with my own differences, more specifically physical and learning, and I was fortunate to have access to resources which included therapies and treatments. I worked with neuropsychologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and I was fortunate enough to overcome a lot of my differences. However, a lot of people who are faced with differences, I find, don’t have access or don’t know where to turn to for support and information on resources. I started Different & Able in order to provide this type of platform so people do have access to support and resources in order to help them live different, but able, lives. Join us, as we help to empower individuals who are different become more able.
