Leah Kaplan: Friendship, Humor, and the Strength to Overcome

Resilience and Empowerment In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia converses with Leah Kaplan, an adaptive athlete and fervent advocate for disability inclusion. Leah shares her remarkable journey from an orphanage in China to becoming an empowered individual. She discusses her congenital disability, her advocacy driven by her mother, and her passion for adaptive sports. The discussion touches on Leah’s perspective on self-advocacy, her career in special education, and her intense yet rewarding journey toward the Paralympics. Leah’s story provides a riveting look at resilience, the importance of community, and the power of embracing one's identity. Leah Kaplan's Unstoppable Pursuit of Disability Inclusion 😂 Finding Humor in Adversity: A Unique Perspective ♿ Disability: Bridging the Gap of Diversity 💪 Empowerment Through Advocacy: A Life-Changing Moment 🌍 Inspiration Through Inclusion: A Voice for Change 🎭 Bringing Laughter and Light to Special Education 🏅 Beyond Limits: Strength of Adaptive Athletics 🚀 Room for Improvement: Embrace the Journey ❤️ Find Your Passion, Not Pressure 🔥 Resilient Action: We Can Do Anything! “You don't need to make the Paralympics your whole life in order to be worthy.  Just do it because you love it” ~ Leah Kaplan Your Listening Guide: Timestamp Breakdown 00:00 Introduction to Pushing Forward with Alycia 00:26 Meet Leah Kaplan: Advocate and Athlete 01:51 Leah's Early Life and Adoption Story 03:08 Growing Up with a Disability 04:33 Discovering Advocacy and Sports 10:29 High School Empowerment and Career Path 13:17 Impactful Teaching Moments 17:06 Journey to Becoming a Paralympic Athlete 20:24 Mental Health and Overcoming Challenges 24:35 Advice for the Younger Generation 27:23 Conclusion and Future Goals Connect with Leah Kaplan: Leah on LinkedIn | Nubbin2SeeHere Instagram | Nubbin2SeeHere on TikTok Follow Up with Alycia: Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast | Follow Alycia on Instagram | Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn | Book Alycia for a Speaking Event | Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism | Buy Alycia’s DEIA Micro Learning Video Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices