What was the initiative?

Simone’s initiative focused on empowering families of children with disabilities in rural Nicaraguan communities. She developed a series of workshops designed to provide parents with the tools and knowledge to advocate for their children’s rights. The initiative was structured around three key modules: dispelling myths and prejudices about disability, understanding human rights and legal frameworks, and building concrete advocacy skills. These workshops were developed through collaboration with community partners, an advisory board of parents and stakeholders, and incorporated the adult education cycle, advocacy strategies and a human rights-based approach.

What was the community connection?

For five years before beginning the Fellowship, Simone had worked to support children with disabilities in Nicaragua through Pivot International, an organization she founded. As a woman with a disability and a dedicated advocate in Canada, she brought both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. Motivated by a deep commitment to inclusion and empowerment, she sought to create opportunities for children in Nicaragua to reach their full potential. Her initiative aimed to equip families with the knowledge, resources, and support systems necessary to foster their children’s growth, ensuring they could thrive and access their rights with confidence.

How was it innovative?

The initiative was innovative in its utilization of a human rights-based framework, community-driven learning, and practical advocacy training. Unlike traditional educational programs, Simone’s workshops engaged parents as active participants in dispelling myths about disability, understanding legal rights, and developing concrete advocacy skills through role-playing and real-world applications. By incorporating the adult education cycle and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) the initiative fostered a shift in mindset from viewing disability as a personal burden to recognizing systemic barriers, ultimately equipping families with the knowledge and confidence to challenge discrimination and demand inclusion.

What is Simone doing now?

Simone was recently promoted to Director of Client Activation, Social, Healthcare, and Public Entities (SHaPE) Practice at McKinsey & Company and continues to sit on the Board of Shad Canada, a STEAM entrepreneurship program for students.