08/20/2026
Go Maia! We are so proud of our alumni🧡🍊
Earlier this year, the CDD announced the selection of four self-advocates from New York State to participate in the inaugural year of the National Disability Leadership Series (NDLS). Today, we would like to introduce you to one of the four selected participants.
Meet Maia Chamberlain:
“Being a leader means to me that you can guide others to live and work together.”
—Maia Chamberlain
Whether she’s working with kindergarten students, competing in Special Olympics, or building connections in her community, Maia Chamberlain believes leadership means helping people live and work together.
Maia enjoys dancing, swimming, shopping, and spending time with friends. She has also competed on Special Olympics teams for track, swimming, and bocce ball.
Maia is a proud graduate of Syracuse University’s InclusiveU, class of 2023. She has built a foundation to pursue the future she wants. Now, she’s employed as a teacher’s aide in a Kindergarten classroom in Northern NY.
“I didn’t think that I would ever be able to attend college and it made my life so much better!” she wrote. “Everyone should have that opportunity.”
That experience inspired Maia’s passion for inclusive higher education. She believes everyone should have the opportunity to pursue college and experience the confidence and independence it can foster.
As a participant in NDLS, Maia is excited to meet new people and make connections that will help her lead the way toward positive changes in her community. Her enthusiasm for meeting new people and building relationships reflects the collaborative approach to leadership she hopes to strengthen through NDLS.
Looking ahead, Maia hopes to become an advocate connecting local organizations with neighborhood services, including first responders, hospitals, and emergency personnel, to help communities better support people with disabilities.
