Aracely Fuentes
The Colony
Aracely Fuentes is a proud neurodivergent advocate living with a learning disability and ADHD. Growing up, she didn’t always see people who looked like her or learned like her in leadership roles—so she decided to become one. Her passion is helping youth with disabilities transition from high school into adulthood with the right supports. She has dedicated her career to making sure students and families don’t feel lost navigating systems like vocational rehabilitation, Medicaid waivers, or postsecondary options. Through her work at the University of North Texas’ Workplace Inclusion & Sustainable Employment (UNT WISE), she has led programs that focus on self-advocacy, employment, and independent living skills. Fuentes uses her personal experience to connect with others, break things down in ways that make sense, and remind students that being different doesn’t mean being less.
Project Title
Youth Leadership Forum in Texas
Project Description
Aracely’s’ capstone project is focused on bringing the Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) back to Texas, a program that changed her life as a former participant. YLF gave her the confidence to embrace her disability, advocate for herself, and find her voice as a leader. Fuentes wants other youth with disabilities in Texas to have the same life-changing experience in a space intended for empowerment, growth, and belonging.
