Aida Alanzi

Aida Alanzi is a 2nd-year Speech-Language Pathology Master’s student at the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated in 2023 from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science, double majoring in psychology and linguistics and minoring in English. She worked as a research assistant at the University of Toronto and Kuwait University, volunteered as a lab assistant at the University of Toronto, and as a research assistant volunteer at the University of Mississippi. She also volunteered as a librarian assistant at the National Library of Kuwait.
 

For the past seven years, Aida has been vocal about disability issues in higher education, advocating for flexible attendance and believing in disabled students. She draws on her experiences to foster empathy, compassion, and understanding. One of her proudest achievements is contributing articles to the University of Toronto’s tri-campus newspaper, focusing on disability and access, particularly within academia. These contributions were recognized when one of her pieces was included in a syllabus creation guide for faculty at the University of Manitoba.
 

After graduating in 2023 and applying to SLP programs, Aida decided to complete her prerequisites for communication science disorders. This decision followed her experience as a caregiver to her late mother, which highlighted the access and health disparities she witnessed. As a future speech-language pathologist, she hopes to prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, and patient-centered care to ensure that her patients’ unique needs are met and to actively dismantle barriers to access through collaboration and advocacy. She hopes to combine her academic training, personal experiences, and passion for advocacy to bridge gaps in care and empower individuals to communicate and thrive in ways that align with their identities.

Aida is excited to be a 2026-2027 Disability Leadership LEND trainee, and she hopes to strengthen her advocacy for individuals with disabilities in her personal and professional life.