We are incredibly honoured to have addressed the United Nations  earlier this month during a High-Level Stocktaking Meeting on youth, peace, and security. Invited to share our perspectives alongside global leaders, we spoke about the importance of youth involvement in mental health and disability support, and why inclusion must be treated as a core pillar of peacebuilding rather than an afterthought. Our message was simple: sustainable peace cannot exist without systems that

"17-year-old" and "Young Woman of the Year" are two phrases we never expected to put together! Lara Hammoud and I are incredibly honored to be named the Young Women of the Year  by the Women Changing the World of the Americas, an initiative created by the Duchess of York. This April, we are humbled to announce we will be attending the Women Changing the World Summit in Paris  to meet and learn from other incredible leaders globally. Watch the full ceremony here . For those wh

This year, becoming a United Nations delegate at 17  was unexpected—but it has become an experience we will never forget. We were honored to participate in the United Nations High-Level Meeting commemorating 30 years of the World Programme of Action for Youth , carrying with us the voices and visions of young leaders from around the globe. Read the our full statements and country remarks from the UN General Assembly here . Our Statement: We measure youth by the years we’ve li

We are thrilled to share that we were recently featured on the CBS Detroit Morning Show ! During the segment, we had the chance to discuss The Perception Foundation’s mission  and introduce our brand-new NDD Education and Youth Empowerment Curriculums  for schools. These programs are designed to foster awareness, understanding, and self-advocacy among students, creating more inclusive and supportive learning environments. Our hope is that by equipping young people with knowle

We are incredibly proud to share that The Perception Foundation  is now helping to shape state policy! On Wednesday, September 14th, we had the honor of presenting our work to the State Training Guidelines Workgroup for Michigan . We shared an in-depth look at our novel, cost-effective, and size-adaptable model for sensory spaces . By providing our expertise, we are directly advising state officials and private groups, helping pave the way for more inclusive and accessible en

This week, we were excited to be featured on the Fox 2 Morning Show  at 8 a.m., where we shared our journey and our commitment to advancing awareness for neurodevelopmental differences (NDDs). On air, we spoke about the importance of giving young people with NDDs a platform, amplifying their voices, and addressing the urgent need for sensory spaces in communities. By sharing both our personal story and the mission of The Perception Foundation , we hoped to remind viewers that

This week, we were honored to be featured on the CBS Detroit Evening Show , highlighting our growing movement to inspire and equip the next generation of young leaders. During the segment, we shared our vision for creating a more inclusive future—one where young people are empowered to lead with empathy, innovation, and courage. By amplifying youth voices and providing opportunities for leadership, we hope to spark change that extends far beyond our local community. Being fea

After several meetings with state Boards of Education, Senators, House Representatives, ABA specialists, special education departments, public health officials, and other key stakeholders, we are thrilled to announce the launch of The Perception Foundation’s free brain-based education programs . Our resources include: PreK–3 to 12 Curriculum : Designed to teach students about neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), promote emotional regulation, and support mental health awarenes

We are proud to share our collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Kentucky  at their Adaptive Abilities Adventures Camp , hosted in the cabins of the Kentucky forest! This camp is designed to support girls of all ages and abilities, creating an inclusive and empowering environment for exploration, learning, and growth. As part of the program, we led workshops on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and disability empowerment, helping girls understand, celebrate, and advocate for

We are excited to announce the launch of the Perception Smoothie , created in partnership with Beyond Juice ! This special smoothie blends banana, coconut, and blue spirulina—an ingredient that has shown promise in preliminary studies for supporting brain health. But beyond the nutrition, the Perception Smoothie has a bigger purpose: to raise awareness about neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in our communities. By turning something as simple as a smoothie into a conversatio

We were honored to be invited to present at the Annual Summer Conference of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA) . This platform gave us the opportunity to share our work with mental health professionals, advocates, and community leaders from across the state. During the conference, we highlighted our cost-effective sensory room model , designed to provide accessible, inclusive, and supportive spaces for individuals with neurodevelopmental differences, t

In 2024, we conducted research that identified a novel genetic diagnosis for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and a potential therapeutic approach. Our work was first recognized at the state level, earning Best in Michigan , and later received First Place at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) . We were also named among the Top 10 Global Leaders in Research , an incredible honor that highlighted the worldwide significance of our findings. Building on this

The founders of The Perception Foundation, Maya and Lara Hammoud , have been recognized for their groundbreaking research on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and potential therapies  with nominations and inductions into some of the nation’s most prestigious scientific organizations. They were inducted into Sigma Xi , the oldest and most prestigious research honor society—an organization that included luminaries such as Albert Einstein. They were also inducted into the Amer

We are so excited to share that The Perception Foundation  is partnering with the Girl Scouts of Kentucky ! Through this collaboration, we will be offering courses on neurodiversity, STEM, and nonprofit leadership, along with a live Q&A where girls can ask us anything about advocacy, innovation, and creating change. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of young female leaders. We want to show girls that they can be advocates, innovators, and changemakers in fields that

We were honored to be invited to speak at the International Conference on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders , held April 17–18 in Orlando, Florida. This global platform brought together experts, advocates, and organizations dedicated to advancing understanding, support, and inclusion for individuals with neurodevelopmental differences. At the conference, we shared the work of The Perception Foundation —from building private and public sensory rooms to hosting sensory-fr

We were thrilled to be invited onto ABC News Detroit  to share our work and showcase our latest sensory room at Bloom Pediatrics. During the feature, we highlighted how sensory rooms provide safe, supportive spaces for individuals with neurodevelopmental differences, trauma histories, and other sensory needs. We also shared our broader mission of expanding accessibility, hosting sensory-friendly events, and promoting neurodiversity awareness in the community. Being on this pl

At The Perception Foundation, we have spent years building sensory rooms in schools and public community centers—creating spaces where individuals can regulate, recharge, and feel supported. But we kept asking ourselves: what about other essential spaces where people face stress and overstimulation every day? That question led us to our next initiative: bringing sensory rooms into medical clinics and healthcare facilities . Medical visits can be overwhelming, especially for i

At The Perception Foundation, our journey has always been guided by one belief: sensory support should be accessible to everyone. We started by building private sensory rooms in schools and clinics for our friends and peers who needed a safe place to regulate. Over time, we expanded into public spaces like libraries and airports, because calm, inclusion, and the ability to thrive should never be privileges. Now we are thrilled to share the next chapter of our mission: public

The start of our advocacy journey was marked by an incredible honor. In November, we were invited to present at the Re:Con Convention in Traverse City  on the theme of New Beginnings. During the convention, we shared our work and highlighted the importance of sensory resources in our communities. From building private and public sensory rooms to hosting inclusive events, we talked about how accessible sensory spaces can transform lives, foster inclusion, and empower individua

When we first started The Perception Foundation, it was all about creating spaces, both literal and figurative, where people with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences could feel understood and supported. Over the years, we realized that awareness is not just built in classrooms or clinics. It happens in everyday interactions, in the conversations we have with friends, family, and strangers. That is why we are so excited to share our Autism Awareness Clothing Line .