Launching Youth for Neurodiversity - My Story
- Aashna Parsa
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
Growing up, I watched my brother, endlessly curious, turn his voracious reading into a spark that lit up his future. He'd spend hours researching teen healthcare access issues, not because he had to, but because he needed to know more. My mom, his fiercest champion, fought against whispers in our community that labeled him "different." Being undiagnosed herself, she saw his strengths, his hyperfocus and brilliance, where others saw early struggles with organization. Through the power of personalized education and freedom to choose his path, my brother soared into a nationally-recognized social entrepreneur—a role model for so many.
Then, a few months ago this summer, I faced my own challenge: an accident that severed my ulnar nerve. I lost mobility in my elbow and sensation in two fingers. Suddenly, I understood what it feels like to navigate a world not built for you. Unable to swim, sketch, write, or code without severe pain, my world had to come to a grinding halt. Accepting help, even from my mom, to turn on my muscle stimulator for therapy, felt like defeat.
But, reminding myself daily that deficits aren't weaknesses, I started overcome the frustration. I was also fortunate to have my neurodiverse friends from the Davidson Young Scholar and Stanford Online High School communities stand by me through my recovery.
Notably, Maxwell Palance, one of my brother's closest friends, became my mentor. Growing up with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Max endured sensory challenges, social misunderstandings, and anxiety. Max's journey from toddlerhood therapies to top-level programming endeavors and advocacy to show neurodiverse children that their potential can surpass any stigma inspired me endlessly.
Thanks to Max, who is also the Co-Chair of Stanford NNEA, Network for K-12 Neurodiversity Education and Advocacy, and a teaching assistant at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University, I got the opportunity to experience the growing neurodiversity movement at the 2025 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit and NeuroTech Frontiers conference!
These past few months were life-changing for me. Through support of friends and family, therapy, and personal grit, I regained most of my elbow's range of motion. Though my hand still carries deficits, I've learned to embrace my new world. My journey has deepened my passion for 'neuro + X'—blending neuroscience, art, anthropology, psychology, assistive tech, and policy to empower neurodivergent youth.
Now, I'm on a mission to fight stigma, mobilize allies, and break barriers—through education, universal design, inclusive spaces, assistive technologies, and policies that uplift neurodiverse youth.
I want every teen to know: our unique mind and our unique body are our strengths. Let's build a world that celebrates us all.
In the words of the eminent Dr. Lawrence Fung, "neurodiversity is for everyone." When we embrace each other's differences and champion strengths, we build stronger communities and ultimately humanity!
