05/18/2026
Everyone deserves meaningful work - but not everyone has access to it. Seeing this gap, Mary Claire Simpson focused her signature work on removing the gap between meaningful work and those with disabilities. Read about her Signature Work below:
“Growing up with an older sister who has Down Syndrome, the world of inclusion has always surrounded me. This world changed as my sister graduated and began searching for a job, as I quickly saw her and her peers, struggle to find meaningful work. Seeing this need as I entered college and started my signature work, there was no doubt that this was the perfect centerpiece: inclusivity of all abilities in the workforce. Many resources exist for people with disabilities looking for support, but a gap still exists between this community and meaningful work. I wanted to research, build a breadth of experience, and ultimately advocate to local businesses on behalf of the disability community in Bryan-College Station. I was able to interview local business, visit CSISD schools, volunteer at the Bee Community, Capernaum Younglife, serve on Beloved and Beyond Staff and as an intern, and take coursework offering me a breadth of knowledge when it comes to advocating for and accommodating all abilities. I was then able to build a practical guide to help create businesses create more inclusive workplaces. I hope to take the knowledge I learned from signature work and carry it forward by actively working to remove barriers and create opportunities for others.”
