Seventeen-year-old Kiana Lee, a deaf student from San Diego, is breaking barriers in the realm of STEM education while advocating for students with disabilities. Recently, she participated in the Disney Dreamers Academy in Orlando, Florida, as one of only 100 carefully selected high school students, an opportunity she earned through her dedication to academics and her commitment to making a difference for her peers and the deaf community.
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“The whole experience was incredible,” Kiana remarked about her time at the Disney Dreamers Academy. “We visited the parks and I met amazing individuals like Malia Baker from Descendants. It was just a wonderful time.” This annual event aims to empower young people who are contributing positively to their communities, and Kiana’s participation underscores her commitment to advocacy and education.
Kiana, who uses hearing aids, sees her deafness not as a limitation but as a perspective that can enrich her life and the lives of others. “I want to show that these types of things aren’t barriers,” she stated. “Instead, they can actually enhance what you do and give you the potential to become so much more.” This attitude forms the foundation of her non-profit organisation, Sign Journey, which she established to create a cultural bridge between deaf and hearing students, particularly in the STEM fields.
One of Kiana’s key objectives is to tackle the isolation often experienced in special education departments. She believes that students with disabilities should be fully integrated into mainstream classrooms and activities, especially in STEM subjects. “I want [students with special needs] to have the opportunity to engage in everyday classroom experiences and get involved in STEM,” she explained. Her commitment to fostering inclusion is not just theoretical; she actively seeks to make it a practical reality within educational settings.
Currently, Kiana is delving into research aimed at improving the learning experiences for deaf students. “I’m studying how deaf individuals process language within neuroscience,” she shared. “We use automatic data generators in the lab to examine how their brains accommodate language comprehension, which differs from hearing individuals.” This innovative research could pave the way for new technologies and methodologies that will enhance classroom integration for all students.
Initially, Kiana did not envision herself pursuing a career in technology. “There just weren’t many people like me in the STEM field, especially young deaf girls,” she noted. However, her family background has greatly influenced her interests. With a deaf father, Kiana has always had a fascination with hearing aids and technology. “I used to think, ‘Why isn’t anyone improving these devices?'” Her curiosity in this area has propelled her towards a future in technology and engineering, an ambition she now pursues with fervour.
The spark of inspiration she has gained from the Disney Dreamers Academy is igniting her passion to make a difference. “Meeting my fellow Dreamers and seeing their projects has truly been motivating,” Kiana expressed. Among her peers was Kofi Hair-Ralston, who founded VenturEd to help other underrepresented young adults find employment. “There are so many kids here at Disney Dreamers Academy who want to make an impact in their communities,” he shared, reflecting the shared aspirations of the participants.
In the midst of Deaf Awareness Week, Kiana Lee stands as an exemplar of how determination, advocacy, and innovation can lead to significant societal contributions. Her journey encapsulates the potential for transforming barriers into opportunities, not just for herself, but for countless others in the disabled community as well. As she looks to the future, filled with ambition and the drive to broaden the horizons in STEM education, Kiana remains a beacon of hope and change.