GSEHD doctoral student Maria (Conchita) Hernandez Legorreta (Special Education) published an article entitled, "I Grew Up Latinx & Disabled — & I’m Creating The Change I Want To See" on Refinery29.com.
Conchita Hernández Legorreta is a disability rights activist and co-founder of the National Coalition of Latinx with Disabilities. As a teacher, doctorate student, and founder of METAS (Mentoring Engaging and Teaching All Students) Conchita advocates for programming and policy changes for people with disabilities in the U.S. and internationally.
In the article, Hernández Legorreta shares her experiences as a blind, undocumented Latina immigrant in the United States, highlighting systemic barriers faced by disabled individuals in the Latinx community. She recounts how language barriers and a lack of accessible information prevented her parents from advocating for appropriate educational services during her childhood. Often, she was tasked with interpreting legal documents, such as Individualized Education Programs, without proper understanding. Hernández Legorreta emphasizes that the Latinx community is not inherently more ableist; rather, institutional power structures and white supremacy limit access to essential resources and information. Frustrated by mainstream organizations' failure to serve communities of color, she co-founded METAS (Mentoring Engaging and Teaching All Students) in 2016. This nonprofit, led by disabled professionals of color, provides resources to underserved families in the U.S. and internationally, aiming to bridge the gap left by traditional institutions.