Being a first-generation college student can motivate you to make the most of your college life because you are the first person in your family to have that college experience. As a first-generation Latinx student with intellectual disability, Durand Delgado understands the value of utilizing resources to advance his education and fulfill his goals.  

Delgado is a student in the leadership and career studies (L&CS) program at Temple University. At Temple, he has enjoyed many courses in both the School of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts and the College of Science and Technology. 

Housed under the Institute on Disabilities in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the L&CS program helps students with intellectual disability expand their skill set and reach their highest potential. Open to students with intellectual disability or intellectual disability and autism ages 18 to 26, it provides an inclusive college experience, peer mentoring and job opportunities. Through the program, students can earn a certificate and have a well-rounded resume by the end of their time at Temple. L&CS participants are fully included in the university community.  

Delgado came to Temple and joined L&CS with a passion for advocacy and looked forward to bettering himself. Currently a junior, Delgado heavily involves himself around campus in both clubs and internships and makes the most of his college career. "When I first started at Temple, I knew I needed to focus on what I wanted out of life," said Delgado.  

As intellectual disability within the Latinx community isn't often talked about. He learned the importance of advocacy for himself and others. "It's harder in my culture, to talk about disability, and for those who want to find resources, it can be more difficult because they can be immigrants or don't speak English," shared Delgado.  

His experiences growing up gave him a passion for community service, too. This passion shows itself in his commitments around campus and beyond. "L&CS helped me a lot, figuring out how to become more independent, how to be more sociable, and how to get out of my comfort zone," added Delgado.  

With the skills he learned at L&CS, Delgado obtained internships with the Youth Advisory Council, the Digital Equity Center and TechOWL. The Youth Advisory Council is a collaboration between Temple and students with disabilities from high schools in the area to talk about social justice issues within Philadelphia and create a zine to spread awareness of those issues.  

"For the zine article Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes, I interviewed people from my old neighborhood of Kensington and Allegheny on their opinions about gun violence," shared Delgado.  

After he finished his internship with the Youth Advisory Council, he began another one with the Digital Equity Center. His studies in information technology in the College of Science and Technology helped him learn the practical skills he needed to fix and update older computers and devices, while CEHD gave him the interpersonal skills needed to interact with the people he was helping.  

"The good thing about the Digital Equity Center is that we can help people in the community by teaching them to be more hands-on with technology," added Delgado.  

This semester, his internship was with TechOWL, Pennsylvania's designated Assistive Technology Act program, that makes technology more accessible for people with disabilities by allowing them to try the technology, answering questions, and more. In this job, he helps set up tablets, making them more accessible to people who need them most. 

Each of these internships and his experiences at Temple have helped Delgado achieve his main goal: to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Through L&CS, he furthered his skills in advocacy and inspired students during panel discussions. He spoke about his experiences to inspire prospective students with intellectual disability. To Delgado, the best experience with L&CS has been "to find myself, mentally and spiritually, and get through obstacles I have never been through before." 

His experience with L&CS supported him in his career as a student and advocate. He also represents the best of the program and uses his skills to connect with those around him.  

For more inspiring stories like Delgado's, check out the CEHD news page.