I Am Able Foundation: Building a Movement for Neurodiversity

Bari Levin, Executive Director, I Am Able

I recently caught up with Bari Levin, a longtime special educator and the Executive Director of the I Am Able Foundation. Our conversation quickly moved beyond introductions into a topic that feels more urgent every year: how we support people with invisible differences, and how often we fall short.

The I Am Able Foundation is building a national community and movement focused on bringing neurodiversity out of the shadows and into the light. Their work is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: there is no one-size-fits-all way to think, process, or succeed. The goal is to replace stigma with understanding, and isolation with connection. Neurodivergent people should feel seen, supported, and included at school, at work, and in daily life.

Founded by Aaron Wolf

The foundation was founded by Aaron Wolf, an award-winning actor, director, speaker, activist, talk show host, and neurodivergent learner. He uses his creative talents to tell stories that resonate and inspire. Aaron started the I Am Able Foundation to bring much needed awareness to neurodiversity

Aaron’s lived experience and storytelling background shape the organization’s emphasis on narrative as a catalyst for change. He understands firsthand how powerful it is when someone sees themselves reflected in a story—and how damaging it can be when they do not.

Aaron speaking to students in Los Angeles while implementing the “We All Learn Differently” program.

Bari’s Foundation in the Work

Bari spent 34 years in special education, much of it at the middle school level. Over time, she saw a recurring pattern: students who learn differently often internalize shame, stay quiet, and avoid asking for support, especially when they don’t yet have language for what they’re experiencing.

In the final years of her career, Bari began inviting individuals with learning differences to share their stories with other students, long before virtual classroom visits became common. That early commitment to lived experience and storytelling is a core pillar of I Am Able’s approach.

The I Am Able Strategy: Storytelling That Creates Understanding

The organization intentionally uses storytelling as a tool for awareness, education, and connection. Their content isn’t designed simply to “inspire.” It’s designed to start conversations that lead to greater empathy and practical support.

Their work has evolved into a set of complementary initiatives:

1) We All Learn Differently: A School-Based Resource

One of their signature efforts is We All Learn Differently, a free resource created for upper elementary through early high school learners. It includes a short film, a classroom playbook, and discussion prompts and activities that help educators and students talk openly about neurodiversity.

Teachers have seen real impact: students become more aware of what classmates may be experiencing, and some neurodivergent students feel validated enough to speak up, ask questions, and seek support—often for the first time.

2) We All Think Differently: Elevating Neurodiverse Voices

Another major initiative is We All Think Differently, a video series intended to broaden public understanding of neurodiversity through stories of high-achieving individuals who “think differently.”

The interviews include:

• Sarah Seager, an MIT astronomer diagnosed with autism as an adult

• Tony Baxter, the Disney leader involved in the creation of Space Mountain, who identifies with dyslexia and frames it as “thinking differently”

• Wes Woodson, a neurodiverse mental health speaker whose life changed after calling a suicide hotline

  
  

These stories reinforce a message central to I Am Able’s mission: neurodiverse minds are not broken or behind. They are often essential to creativity, innovation, and leadership when given the right environment and support.

3) Empowerment Groups: Connection for Neurodiverse Adults

In addition to content, I Am Able is building small-group communities through Empowerment Groups. Currently operating in places like Los Angeles and Austin, these groups bring neurodiverse adults together in structured, supportive conversations around common challenges such as:

• Time management

• Social connection

• Workplace navigation

  
  

This initiative reduces the loneliness many people experience when they believe they are “the only one.”

The Current Focus: “With Us. Protect All Minds.”

The organization is preparing to launch a major campaign titled With Us. Protect All Minds.

This is a story-driven multimedia initiative designed to reframe how neurodiversity is seen—not as something to fix or fear, but as a force that moves our world forward.

The campaign’s goals are clear:

1. Educate Forward Through Story

2. Redefine the Narrative

3. Shine Light on Resources, Advocacy, and Truth

   
   

The program aims to meet the moment with storytelling, education, and community-building that shifts perception at scale.

The Opportunity Ahead: Structure and Board Activation

Like many growing organizations, I Am Able has built significant momentum through a small team, strong content, and strategic relationships.

The next stage of growth will require strengthening fundraising structure, particularly activating board members and supporters to open doors, make introductions, and participate consistently in development conversations.

The mission is clear. The need is real. The work is strong.

Now the opportunity is to build the systems and cadence that allows the organization to raise consistently and scale effectively.

Why This Matters

I Am Able is advancing a vision where:

• Invisible differences do not define or limit someone’s potential

• Neurodivergent individuals can connect, share, and feel understood

• Schools and workplaces build stronger skills for inclusion and support

• Stigma is replaced with knowledge, empathy, and acceptance

  
  

Change is driven by stories, practical tools, and a community willing to lean in, and that's exactly what I Am Able Foundation is doing.

To learn more about I Am Able Foundation and their impact, visit their website.

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I help nonprofits raise more money through education, coaching, and strategic planning. I also lead high-impact professional development, coaching programs, and retreats for companies of all sizes. If you’re ready to strengthen your fundraising strategy, turn board members into advocates, or build a comprehensive legacy giving program, let’s talk.