Inclusion through Imagination

K-12 STEAM education

Long Beach County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) LAUSD (select only if you have a district-wide partnership)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The Disability Representation Gap
Children with disabilities face critical shortage of authentic role models in schools. Despite 15% of the population living with disabilities, children rarely encounter successful disabled adults demonstrating that disabilities don't define limitations.
Who's Affected: Children with disabilities develop diminished self-confidence. Neurotypical children form incomplete understanding, perpetuating misconceptions. Educators lack accessible inclusive resources.
Why Now: Post-pandemic neurodiversity awareness increased, yet authentic representation remains scarce. Children form critical social perceptions during formative years when inclusive messaging has maximum impact.
Barriers: Financial constraints prevent talented disabled creators like Alexandra from reaching broader audiences. Schools want inclusive programming but lack funding for visits and books.
Without action, another generation grows up viewing disability as deficit rather than diversity.

Breaking Barriers Through Direct Access
Grant funds will eliminate financial barriers preventing schools from accessing authentic disability representation. Our two-pronged approach addresses the representation gap through zero-to-low cost author visits and bilingual book distribution.
Author/Speaker Programs: Alexandra Adlawan visits schools sharing her personal journey, demonstrating how disabilities inspire creativity rather than limit potential. Children witness firsthand that different ways of experiencing the world lead to unique strengths. Number of visits depends on funding limits.
Bilingual Book Access: Grant funding produces bilingual "Adventures of Maddie and Albert" series, reaching Spanish-speaking families and English learners. Direct manufacturer partnerships maximize purchasing power.
Budget Example ($75,000 grant):
33% ($25,000): Coordination, travel, operational expenses
67% ($50,000): 10,000-20,000 free/low-cost books and zero-cost school visits
This model ensures maximum reach while maintaining sustainability. Additional non-grant sponsorships would increase reach beyond initial funding. Each dollar directly translates to children accessing authentic disability representation through personal interaction with Alexandra or inclusive literature celebrating limitless imagination. Measurable impact reaches underserved communities throughout LA County, breaking cycles of limited representation.

This initiative transforms LA County schools by bringing authentic disability representation to students, fostering inclusive communities celebrating neurodiversity. Alexandra's visits and book distribution help children see disabilities as strengths, not limitations.
Program success will demonstrate measurable impact to administrators and sponsors, creating momentum for district-wide adoption. We'll develop lesson plans for all five "Adventures of Maddie and Albert" books, providing educators structured tools reinforcing inclusive messaging.
When administrators witness student engagement and positive outcomes, they'll champion expanded programming. Combined grants and sponsorships create sustainable funding models transforming educational environments county-wide.
Community partnerships augmenting traditional education with outside-developed programs ensure well-rounded solutions addressing representation gaps while building inclusive school cultures throughout LA County.