Second-year Biomedical Sciences student Talina Papazian is an advocate, an author, and a passionate leader. When she was six years old, her brother was diagnosed with a severe anaphylactic peanut allergy. The diagnosis transformed her family's life, as her brother navigated new challenges like social isolation. At sixteen years old, Papazian made it her mission to make a difference in healthcare, no matter her age. She began volunteering at a children's rehabilitation facility, where she connected with other children facing similar experiences.
At 17, Papazian, an ally of the disability community, wrote and illustrated You Taught Me, a children's book featuring inclusive characters and narrative to raise funds and awareness for children with disabilities and developmental differences. The book has sold over 800 copies and 100 per cent of the proceeds are donated to the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital where she continues to support their programs as an ongoing volunteer.
Papazian sees storytelling as a powerful medium, writing the book to champion inclusion and accessibility for children living with visible and hidden disabilities, like her brother.
"Capturing the importance of inclusion and accessibility in a children's book is so critical because children who have challenging medical conditions are so much more than their medical diagnosis,"she says. "Sharing inclusive stories emphasizes the importance of considering an individual as a holistic person with important ideas to share. Every child deserves to be treated with equality."
It is her hope that providing children with inclusive resources, like her children's book, will help reshape how people think about disability and inclusion and inspire young readers to also become champions for inclusion.
Her advocacy work has granted her the honour of receiving several awards, including the Rick Hansen Foundation Difference Maker of the Year Award last year and the Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) Rising Star Award this year. The EKO award is a prestigious recognition granted to an emerging leader who has made significant contributions to the lives of children with disabilities and developmental differences, and their families. Papazian has demonstrated this impact through partnerships with public libraries, children's centres and hospitals, where she regularly hosts workshops and activities for young readers that foster inclusive perspectives and encourage conversations on disability and inclusion.
These awards have provided her with the opportunities to champion inclusion at a larger scale. She is currently a member of the Rick Hansen Foundation Youth Leadership Committee, is working on a second children's book, and is launching a website for her advocacy work, all while balancing her studies as a second-year Biomedical Sciences student at Waterloo and preparing for the MCAT exam. During her time at Waterloo, she is exploring career options in pediatric medicine in hopes to continue supporting kids facing challenging medical conditions.
Her advice to young people wanting to make a difference is to start with your passion. "If you care about something, take that first step, even if it feels small. Believe in yourself, step out of your comfort zone, and don't be afraid to ask for help along the way," she says. "And remember, it's so important to include people who are part of the community you are advocating for as an ally. Their voices need to be heard to remain at the centre of your work."
The mission of You Taught Me is to foster a love for championing inclusion amongst young readers by sharing stories that celebrate the value of every voice. 100 per cent of the proceeds from You Taught Me are donated to the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. To support this cause, you can purchase the book at Amazon, Indigo, or FriesenPress.
