Members Profile

Hello, my name is Hannah Adira. I am 24 years old, and a senior in college. My pronouns are she/her they/them and I use a walker. I am autistic, and have bipolar. I also have general and social anxiety, PTSD, Dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, POTS, and Mass cell Activation Syndrome. My degree is in Freshwater and Coastal Water: Marine Biology and Ecology, Indigenous Peoples: Environmental Policy and Culture, and Comparative Literature: Creative Writing and Fiction. I am very passionate about advocacy, and routinely take part in trainings and meetings that address disabilities and services. My dream is to become an environmental advocate, and create a place that is safe for domestic violence survivors, those of minorities, and those with disabilities to be safe and get help. For a closer goal I am looking into graduate degree programs around environmental policy and I plan to bring my knowledge of disability advocacy into whatever program I choose. I have actually been volunteering and participating in my community since I was 12. The first organization I volunteered at was the Ark of Spokane. In 2017 I started attending our local Family Youth System Partner Round Table, or FYSPRT. I continue to this day focusing on advocating for youth behavioral health and rural services. I volunteer at my local Independent Living Center and help with projects and events. In 2021, I was recruited into the Washington State Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group, and I am a voting member. Also, I am on two subcommittees that are about youth and Young Adults. This group reports to the governor of Washington State and I am taking part in the creation of the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and Legislative initiatives. I recently became a Co-Chair for the Washington State Independent Living Council’s Education and Outreach Committee. We are in the process of planning our next committee meeting and recruiting people. In addition, I am certified in Suicide Prevention and to lead two different NAMI support groups. The freedom of choice is something that is so important. In every group, meeting, and event, this topic is always brought up. I am here today because my mom gave me the freedom to choose my health care, what food I ate, clothes I wore, and places I went. These freedoms, while at the time did not seem like anything, now they mean the world to me. I have skills that I would not have had otherwise. I had the freedom to choose my path and my life. I want to give and fight for this freedom for everyone as an APRIL Youth Board member. We are stronger together! Our voices are loud!