Guest: Michelle Steiner, a writer, photographer, paraeducator, and disability advocate who lives with an invisible disability.
In this powerful and inspiring episode of the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, hosts Paul Cruz and Gino Akbari sit down with Michelle Steiner.
Michelle shares her deeply personal journey of being told what she couldn’t do—only to go on and earn her college degree, publish widely, advocate for students with disabilities, and build a meaningful creative career. Through heartfelt storytelling, Michelle sheds light on the realities of invisible disabilities, self-advocacy, resilience, relationships, and the power of creativity as healing and expression.
This episode is a must-listen for neurodivergent individuals, educators, parents, caregivers, and advocates seeking hope, understanding, and actionable insight.
Powerful Takeaways
Memorable Quotes
“Just because people can’t see my disability doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
“I did it afraid. And when I started focusing on what I could do, I began to see success.”
“Having a disability isn’t a weakness—it can become a strength.”
Connect with Michelle:
Website: https://www.michellesmission.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.steiner.493966/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steiner7250/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-steiner-0573ba260/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michellesmission.bsky.social
Connect With Us
Grab your The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast Merch Catalogue Items from our Printful Store
https://www.neurodiversityvoices.com/category/all-products
Support the show & create your own merch!
I use Printify to design and ship custom merch on demand—no inventory, no hassle. If you’ve ever wanted to launch your own merch line, check it out here: www.printful.com/give-5-get-5/TOG355
Using this link helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you. 💜
Support by joining our Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join
Be A Neurodiversity Voices+ Subscriber
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast player you love, please take a moment to rate the show and leave a comment. It makes a huge difference!