While attending the Stanbridge OTA degree program, Patricia received a California Campus Compact Fellowship, which allowed her the opportunity to volunteer with High Hopes Head Injury Program, working with individuals who have survived various types of head injuries. She described how survivors of head injury are perceived as being unable to learn or devoid of personality. Through her experiences in the program, she discovered how untrue that view is. “In fact, they are learning new things every day,” she stated, “and they have the funniest personalities that I have ever encountered.”
Throughout her education and fieldwork, Patricia sought to expand her understanding of, as well as push the boundaries of what others perceive about disability, providing visibility and breaking down the negative stigma surrounding head trauma. She is passionate about helping individuals with disabilities and has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for engaging those around her toward this cause. “It is my personal mission to improve my community’s outlook on individuals with disabilities,” she said, “and raise awareness about the barriers these individuals face as a result of the stigma that surrounds them.” Comments are closed.
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