February 14, 2024

Written by: Dahrah Chekis and Meredith Bloom

As the most visited museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, The Franklin Institute is one of the leading science centers in the country. Their Ambassador Program is at the forefront of their mission. This program is an initiative within the broader STEM Scholars program. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Students eager to deepen their commitment to STEM education can become an ambassador which provides a unique opportunity to positively impact the community through volunteering and outreach.

The Franklin Institute invited Transition Pathways’ Neurodivergent Young Adult Advisory Council (NYAAC) and Drexel’s student organization, the Neurodragons to participate in one of its ambassador meetings. The discussion's purpose was to hear directly from neurodivergent voices about their experiences and what supports help them thrive. This collaboration represents The Franklin Institute's commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the STEM community.

Everyone broke up into smaller groups so that they could share their thoughts. Topics of discussion included the impact of community and inclusive support. The Ambassadors were introduced to a new way of thinking through their conversations and work with the Drexel NYAAC and Neurodragons teams. When the term disability was used referring to autism, one Neurodragon shared, “It’s not a disability it's a different ability."

When reflecting on the impact of the discussion, Eli, a member of Neurodragons shared how music connected him with his group. “I brought up on how my headphones are helpful for me because I have a sensitivity to noise, and it helps me to keep them on all the time. We talked about that for a bit, and it led to the music interest discussion.”

One member from NYAAC shared how he really enjoyed the event. “One of the things I am working on is my social anxiety and collaborating with others. So, this was a really great event that gave me the opportunity to share my experience.”

Everyone left excited to continue the conversation with some ambassadors even asking for more information on neurodiversity and how to be a good advocate.