Rebel Girls Celebrate Neurodiversity: 25 Tales of Creative Thinkers

Rebel Girls Celebrate Neurodiversity: 25 Tales of Creative Thinkers — page 3
Dear Rebels FOREWORD My name is Isabella Springmühl I'm 26 years old I am from Guatemala and I am a fashion designer I speak all over the world about entrepreneurship and employment inclusion for people with disabilities What I love most about myself is that I have Down syndrome Down syndrome means my brain works differently than other people's and it's just one example of neurodiversity From a young age I had the opportunity to attend a traditional school which gave me great confidence even though connecting with my peers wasn't always easy My mother took it upon herself to educate and inform my teachers about Down syndrome She had the brilliant idea of writing a book so that my classmates could also learn about this condition They learned about me and in turn I learned about them Today I know that being different made me strive harder and with the support of a shadow teacher and curriculum adaptations I graduated college My classmates even chose me to deliver the graduation speech I dreamed of pursuing a degree in fashion design but I was turned down by two universities in Guatemala It wasn't because I lacked talent or knowledge It was because I had Down syndrome I felt devastated because for the first time in my life Down syndrome was a reason to be denied an opportunity But I didn't let that stop me My journey as a fashion designer began with a passion for beautiful clothes and jewelry which turned into a thriving business positively impacting the lives of many Guatemalan artists I developed a unique and self-taught creative process I make vibrant pieces crafted from pre-loved Guatemalan fabrics With the help of a wonderful all girl team I bring my ideas creativity and deep love for my country to life The most challenging part of my journey has been dealing with the lack of understanding about my condition But understanding comes with knowledge That's why books like this one are so important Through them people all over 4