Who are we?

We are a group of disabled college students who were selected to be Dinah F.B. Cohen Fellows. We created these guides as part of our participation in the Spring 2025 session of this program. To learn more about the Dinah F.B. Cohen Fellowship and our hosting organization, Partnership for Youth with Disabilities, click here.

Scroll down to learn a bit more about each fellow and click the buttons to read their guides!
Sophie Christensen (she/they) is graduating May 2025 with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science with minors in Intersectional Gender Studies, Sexuality Studies, Math and Music. She plans to pursue a career studying public policy, specifically policies that help disabled people and other marginalized groups. They are passionate about building community and creating resources around disability and they are an officer in their school’s disability club. In the rare moments she isn’t busy with school, work, or extracurricular activities, Sophie enjoys playing D&D with her friends, reading or listening to audiobooks, and playing or listening to music.
Dani McEwen is a rising junior at Baldwin Wallace University majoring in creative writing and political science. In the past, she’s organized events for her school’s interfaith dialogue group, designed career resources to help students from diverse backgrounds find supportive employers, and tutored students with learning disabilities through her local library. She’s excited to bring her interest in accessibility advocacy and educational policy research to the 2025 PYD Fellowship team.
Celeste Jasmine Cash (any pronouns) is graduating from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology and a minor in Queer and Sexuality Studies. Their honors thesis investigated how autistic sexual narratives challenge heteronormative and ableist ideas of sexuality, and they will be starting their M.A. in Sociology in the fall to continue to research the intersection between disability and sexuality. They are passionate about access to sexual health and co-direct an inclusive peer sex education program. In their free time, Celeste enjoys going to concerts and cuddling with their cat Sybil.
Isabelle “Izzy” Bailey is a disability advocate, accessibility consultant, avid contra dancer, and community change-maker. She grew up in rural Maine and credits its landscape for shaping her deep belief in collective care and community organizing. Izzy holds an undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation Services and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at the University of Maine. She works with the Pine Tree Guide Dog Users advocacy group, serves on the Outdoor Equity Working Group at the Nature Based Education Consortium, and recently served on Patagonia’s Community Grants Council. Izzy was recently matched with her first guide dog, Bright, and can often be found mushroom foraging, swimming in wild waters, or helping build a more equitable and accessible Maine.
Sydney (she/her) is a rising junior at Connecticut College majoring in Psychology with a minor in Statistics and certificate in Public Policy and Community Action. Sydney’s goals include law school and combining mental and physical health research and advocacy with policy to combat inequality. She believes that health, housing, equity, food access, and education are comorbid issues that disproportionately affect minoritized communities. When she is not in class, working or volunteering, she enjoys the company of friends, painting, and reading.