Eisele, a fourth-year student from Eagan, Minnesota, majoring in communication with an organizational communication emphasis and a kinesiology minor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, has been recognized for her advocacy efforts. She will receive the Student Recognition Award from the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) at their annual conference in Denver, Colorado.
“The value of self-advocacy is something I know doesn’t come easily to everyone else,” says Eisele. “If I have the chance to use my voice to speak up for someone around me, you can count that I’m not going to stay quiet.”
Eisele expressed gratitude for receiving this national award. “It’s the honor of a lifetime and I’m just so grateful to be recognized for the work that I’ve done,” she says. “Winning this award has only made me more invigorated to make positive change on our campus and in my community.”
Her advocacy journey was influenced by her parents’ work with the disability community and her own experience with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Eisele emphasizes making UW-Eau Claire accessible: “Community is so important for the neurodiverse community, and being an advocate on campus means that I can help other students find others who learn differently just like them.”
Nominated by UW-Eau Claire’s Services for Students with Disabilities office, Eisele thanked Katie Bublitz, SSD director, for being a supportive partner.
Dustin Behlke from TRIO Project AIM praised Eisele’s dedication: “Her dedication and commitment to being involved in her local community, with her goals focusing on improvement and growth, is inspiring,” he says.
In addition to serving as personnel director in Student Senate leadership where she advocated for student accessibility legislation, Eisele participated in several initiatives:
– Developed sensory space in Davies Center.
– Created Commission on Student Health and Wellness.
– Conducted research about neurodiversity in K-12 education.
– Organized an accessibility tour of The Sonnentag.
– Led Neurodiversity Alliance’s campus chapter mentoring middle school students.
– Interned as social media manager for Neurodiversity Alliance.
