[Laura] aspires to become the kind of therapist she once needed — one who understands disability from the inside.

Born with a rare congenital condition called Larsen’s syndrome, Laura Suprenant kept pace with her peers in school despite many surgeries, hospital stays, and mobility challenges. She earned her bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from Illinois State University and looked forward to a promising career in her chosen field. Yet shortly after her college graduation, Laura’s disability caused her to sustain an injury so debilitating that she was unable to walk, work, or live independently. Medical professionals assumed that Laura was anticipating this outcome, but Laura felt completely blindsided: she had lost her normal life and livelihood. What followed was an intense period of recovery as Laura relearned to walk, manage her chronic illness, and find new ways to connect with others.

Laura was still passionate about connecting with others through photography. In the wake of her injury, Laura launched Portraits of Persons with Disabilities, a photo and interview series celebrating disabled people’s stories. “The strangers who volunteered to be photographed became my friends and my support system,” Laura says. Their resilience taught Laura to recognize her own.

Now, Laura is pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan. She aspires to become the kind of therapist she once needed — one who understands disability from the inside. She demonstrates a commitment to accessible mental health care and a vision for creating inclusive therapeutic spaces. As a new parent, Laura is particularly interested in highlighting the experiences of caregivers with disabilities. Laura also brings experience advocating for people living with disabilities through her advocacy work with organizations like Detroit Disability Power. She is a passionate advocate for disability rights, as one fellow community organizer writes: “Laura is someone who doesn’t wait to be asked. She sees what needs doing, and she shows up.”

CEW+ admires Laura’s advocacy for people with disabilities and names her a Beatrice Kahn Scholar.