Our Team
Samuel Vogel
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RESEARCH COMMITTEE INTERN
samuel@aadinitiative.org
Hi, my name is Samuel Vogel (He/Him/They/Them), a senior in high school, class of 2022, planning to pursue a career as either an international humanitarian lawyer or a biomedical engineer. My Chinese name is 华辉 (HuaHui). I grew up with no role models who were Disabled, let alone Asian American. I am diagnosed with Spina Bifida, Neurogenic Bladder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder. I am a Chinese adoptee who was adopted by a white American household during China’s One-Child Policy (1980-2015) and I now currently live in South Florida.
Outside of the AADI, I co-founded both the Disabled+Abled United Honor Society & Model UN at my high school. I currently work as a researcher for three non-profit organizations: Dear Asian Youth, Day.Kolkata, and GenZ: We Are The Future. Growing up, issues such as Disability, mental health, LGBTQ+, and the Asian American experience were often not discussed. There were numerous misconceptions and stigmatization, so creating a space to discuss, educate, and elevate will further develop a better-educated society of humans such as the AADI. It has bridged an intersectional gap between two marginalized groups for me as I have always struggled to balance being part of marginalized groups. I am passionate about advocating for the underrepresented communities and strive to diversify my own knowledge.
Hobbies I enjoy are photography, magic the gathering, gym, plants, watching sci-fi, documentaries, or thrillers, and having deep conversations.