From a childhood passion project to one of the world's most influential stages for ideas, Maya and Lara Hammoud's journey reached an extraordinary milestone this week at the Aspen Ideas Festival. As two of the festival's youngest invited guests and Maya as one of the youngest speakers, the twin sisters had the honor of joining a distinguished community of leaders, innovators, and changemakers representing organizations such as BlackRock, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), TIME, Moun

Ten years ago, Maya and Lara Hammoud were simply two young girls trying to help their best friend with autism feel more comfortable, included, and understood. Armed with little more than cardboard, creativity, and compassion, they built their first sensory room. A decade later, those same sisters found themselves in the halls of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, delivering multiple statements during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP19)

Lara Hammoud and Maya Hammoud are incredibly honored to share a milestone that has meant so much to them throughout their journey in science, advocacy, and innovation. This year, the twin sisters became the youngest speakers in the history of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), often referred to as the “Olympics” or “Nobel Prize” of high school science. Each year, ISEF brings together approximately 1,700 of the world’s top young scientists, engine

Maya Hammoud and Lara Hammoud are incredibly honored to be named members of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Class of 2026. They say the odds of becoming a Coca-Cola Scholar are less than 1/6th of 1%. Statistically speaking, the probability of twin sisters achieving this milestone together is almost impossible. But as Maya and Lara have learned throughout their journey, data only accounts for the expected, not the impact of passion, perseverance, and purpose. Being selected

Lara Hammoud and Maya Hammoud are incredibly honored to have been named Young Women of the Year of the Americas by Women Changing the World, an initiative created by the Duchess of York. What began as a small act of care, building a sensory-friendly room for a friend with autism, has grown into The Perception Foundation, a global movement now reaching more than 500,000 people across 34+ countries. This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the mission that

Our founders, Maya and Lara Hammoud (@hammoudtwins), are incredibly honored to be invited back to the Fox Morning Show to share the growth of The Perception Foundation, now spanning 34 countries with global recognition. What started as a single sensory room has grown into an international movement, and we are so grateful for how far this journey has come. We're especially excited to be back with the amazing Erica to share our latest updates and impact.

Being named one of the 100 Women to Know in America is an incredible honour we truly never expected. The Perception Foundation began as a small initiative after meeting our childhood friend with autism, and has since grown into a global movement dedicated to raising awareness around neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health. We are incredibly proud of our founders, and especially Lara Hammoud-for being recognized on this list. We can't wait to see all of these inspiring

At just 18, Perception Foundation founders Maya and Lara Hammoud (@hammoudtwins ) are already stepping onto the global stage-addressing the General Assembly during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women on a critical and often overlooked issue: the persistent lack of women in leadership. In their remarks, they challenged not only the structural barriers within our systems, but also the social norms and cultural expectations that shape who is encouraged to lead.

At just 18, founder Maya Hammoud ( @hammoudtwins ) brought the Gen Z perspective to the Wall Street Green Summit, showing that sustainability is no longer only environmental, it is social We are done with symbolic sustainability No more performative pledges No more surface level representation Real sustainability means supporting people, not just branding it It means transparency, accountability, and systems that truly include everyone Gen Z is not asking for change, we are d

I’m incredibly honored to share that Maya and Lara Hammoud were invited to the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations during CSW70 to speak about an issue that matters deeply to us : the discrimination that women with disabilities continue to face within legal systems and institutions around the world. During the discussion, we shared perspectives from our work at the Perception Foundation , highlighting the structural barriers that prevent women wit

It’s not everyday you receive a letter from the White House and the President himself. Twin sisters Maya and Lara Hammoud were incredibly moved to receive this personal note from the President Trump acknowledging their advocacy and dedication to serving others. To hear that their efforts with the The Perception Foundation is making a meaningful difference and helping to build a stronger nation is a level of recognition we never expected, but deeply appreciate. This is

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