Voices of Inclusion: John Lewis High School Students Champion Disability Rights
A Legacy of Leadership
John Lewis High School students are advocating for disability rights and justice, following in the footsteps of Congressman and civil rights leader John R. Lewis, who their school is named to honor.
The students are a part of the school’s John R. Lewis Leadership Program, an innovative initiative designed to inspire students to become future leaders in government, public policy, and human rights. The program is inspired by the life and legacy of Congressman Lewis and aims to infuse his principles into the core curriculum. Students have opportunities for experiential learning, such as field trips, guest speaker events, and community action projects. Additionally, the program offers specialized coursework, internships, and university partnerships for students seeking deeper engagement.
As part of the program, leadership student Caitlin Fauls focused on disability rights advocacy, recognizing a need as both a student with dyslexia and the child of a parent with dyslexia. Caitlin wanted to learn more about her mother’s story and explore her connection to disability justice. Her early efforts inspired a small group of classmates to join her. By November 2023, this small group had grown into a coalition of students with disabilities, multilingual learners, newcomer students, and allies, all energized by a shared vision of inclusion and student voice.
Around the same time, Linda Harris, Lewis Leadership Program Community Working Group member and a disability rights advocate, proposed that the school serve as a stop for the Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice. The student leaders began collaborating with the caravan organizers to plan an event for September 9, 2024, when Lewis students would lead bilingual programming for this national event. Lewis High School was the only youth-led stop on this eight-month, multi-state caravan.
Student Research and Community Engagement
To prepare for the event, students began researching disability rights in their community and nation. They learned about leaders like Judy Heumann and Lois Curtis, explored accessibility issues at school, and led field trips to parks, stores, and other places in the community.
Deborah March, manager of the John R. Lewis Leadership Program, noted, “They noticed the representation and advertisements of people in wheelchairs. They saw a kind of celebration of diversity, and they also noticed barriers. The students were conducting their community inventory and began to conduct oral histories as well.” The students researched disability in their communities, examining stigmas and barriers while also aiming to create intergenerational dialogue.
Building an Inclusive Event
Students partnered with teachers and disability advocates to create accessible, multilingual curriculum resources about disability justice so that all Lewis High School teachers could connect their students to the event on September 9. Students also emphasized making the event accessible and inclusive for everyone, avoiding traditional speeches and focusing instead on art, music, movement, and community-building.
Forest Gross, a Leadership Program student, shared, “A big thing was ensuring everything was accessible. Little things that you may not necessarily think about, like just being able to get in and out of the building, were addressed. We even ensured that the art supplies were accessible to everyone.”
The event aimed to foster a sense of community among participants, including people with and without disabilities, youth and adults, and Spanish and English speakers. By empowering participants to take action for disability freedom and justice in ways that resonated with them, the event encouraged ongoing engagement.
The event also prioritized student voices and encouraged voter registration to amplify the voices of all community members. Students from various programs and classes — leadership, English language development, adaptive art, strategies for success, AVID, and learning Seminar — collaborated with local organizations to bring their vision to life. Their efforts included everything from planning multi-sensory events to creating performances highlighting their unique perspectives on disability justice.
Key Middle School students also contributed their talents. Art students created captivating pieces displayed at the event. Theater students took the stage to perform an original play, drawing on personal experiences related to disability justice. The event emphasized collaboration and inclusion, allowing students of various abilities, languages, and cultures to contribute equally.
Learning by Doing
The event resulted in more than 200 students and community members with an opportunity to take action for a better world. The day was filled with activities that celebrated student voices and engaged participants in meaningful conversations about disability rights. From art showcases to interactive stations, the energy was palpable as everyone came together for a common cause.
The students’ efforts have been transformative, creating a “freedom space” of inclusion that impacted both the students and disability rights activists, marking a significant milestone in the school's approach to disability advocacy and inclusion.
Expanding Student Voices
Multilingual students played a major role in the event's success as they ensured the event was inclusive for all. Allison, a multilingual learner, shared, “Our culture was a great resource for planning. In our culture, with our families, we hold meetings to connect with people. We have traditions of connecting with each other, and that's the strength we draw on in planning this process.”
Through this project, students developed leadership skills as researchers, artists, writers, collaborators, logistical planners, perspective-takers, listeners, curriculum developers, graphic designers, advocates, and public speakers. Caitlin Fauls reflected, “I came out of my shell a lot more. I started talking to many more people and just being less introverted. I also got to talk to a bunch of different community members that I would never normally talk to, which I thought was cool.”
National Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice Stop
On September 9, the event was a success, showcasing a performance by Key Middle School students, a commemorative banner for guests to sign, an interactive photo booth, and a voter registration station. Attendees connected in story-sharing spaces and engaged in meaningful conversations with representatives from disability justice organizations, with the day concluding with a field trip to join the National Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice in Washington, D.C.
Honoring the 35th Anniversary of the ADA
While hosting a National Caravan stop is impressive for these high schoolers, they have even more in store. In July 2025, 25 students will embark on a journey to honor the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The students will travel to Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, where they will engage with prominent disability rights activists and learn firsthand about pivotal moments and ongoing efforts in the fight for disability rights.
A highlight of the trip will be crossing the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where students will walk in the footsteps of civil rights leaders, including John Lewis, who championed justice and equality.
As part of this commemorative experience, students will capture their journey and insights in a documentary. Forest, a Leadership Program student, shared, "Our entire program is focused on continuing his legacy and honoring [John Lewis]. Our goal is to inspire advocacy and leadership, and create positive change."
