DHRUV PATEL
UNITED STATES, 16
He/Him
Project: AbilifyNow
Growing up, Dhruv’s father, uncles, and paternal grandparents were diagnosed with hand tremors and epilepsy, making daily tasks like eating and writing challenging. From family members facing judgment and impatience, to hearing ableist slurs at school, and the normalization of ableist rhetoric in media, Dhruv was compelled to create a more inclusive environment. In January 2021, Dhruv formed AbilifyNow to dismantle ableism and advance disability equity through education, conversation, and grassroots activism. Dhruv quickly realized their advocacy must tailor to specific interests and actively engage people. AbilifyNow creates population-specific, dynamic initiatives like hackathons, plays and artist panels. In September 2021, they organized AbilityHacks, a 36-hour-long computer science hackathon that focused on accessibility. Founded in Chicago, AbilifyNow spans 30+ countries with chapters in India, Indonesia, Canada and Nigeria. AbilifyNow has been recognized for their immersive disability advocacy as a finalist in the Rise® Challenge, an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, and as the winner of the Invisalign ChangeMaker Challenge. In March 2022, AbilifyNow was selected as an early entry prize recipient of the 2022 T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge. Dhruv will continue expanding the scope of AbilifyNow’s work, seeking partnerships with large organizations such as the Special Olympics, and begin advocating for policy change that outlaws ableist employment legislation. By taking as diverse approaches as possible, Dhruv hopes to pioneer disability equity in a sustainable and meaningful way.