Cool Kids Club sparks change

Toreros join club and spend time with differently-abled young adults while encouraging diversity

Emma Goodman-Fish/Asst. Feature Editor/The USD Vista

Zia Yurchuck, a sophomore student and president of the Cool Kids Club at USD, wholeheartedly believes in changing the biases surrounding differently-abled people and creating lasting relationships along the way. 

“It’s so important that we engage with people of all different communities and identities,” Yurchuck said. “We do a good job at USD, but many think it’s only race or culture and while that is important, we often forget about people with different abilities, and that community is so important for us to engage with.”  

The Cool Kids Club, a USD student-run organization, spends two days a week at Transition Resources for Adult Community Education (TRACE), a school in the San Diego Unified School District. TRACE defines itself as “more than a school: We are an educational support network to assist young adult students with disabilities as they transition from high school to adult life.”

Through the club’s relationship with TRACE, students form powerful relationships with differently-abled young adults. Yurchuck and other students look forward to the opportunity to meet new people, engage in different activities, and develop a greater understanding of others in their community. Yurchuck first joined Cool Kids Club in her second semester at USD, and now holds the position of president. 

Along the way, Yurchuck has made many friends, including a young adult named Grace, who loves to sing and dance. Grace has Down syndrome and Yurchuck spends time with her every week. Grace’s favorite song is “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful” and every time Yurchuck arrives, Grace sings it to her. 

Recently, Yurchuck developed a relationship with a student new to the TRACE program. After his first day spending time with USD students, the student asked, “Are you guys gonna remember me? Today was so great. I hope you come back every week.”

This comment reminded Yurchuck of just how important it is to engage with differently-abled individuals and the benefits that they both can receive by interacting with one another. 

Katie Fredricks and Naia Perry are two USD students also involved in the Cool Kids Club and are passionate about creating friendships and changing the way differently-abled people are viewed.

“We should use the term ‘differently-abled,’” Fredricks said after her experiences learning from differently-abled young adults. “Just because they can’t do things in the same way as us doesn’t mean they can’t do them.”

Fredricks encourages the community to get involved with new people and get out of their comfort zone.

“They are afraid or uncomfortable with people who are different, but people should realize that they are much more similar to us than they are different,” Fredricks said. 

Perry also recognizes this importance and has taken advantage of the opportunity to get involved with the Cool Kids Club as a first-year student. In her first visit to the TRACE program, she connected with Ryan, who has been at TRACE for at least a year. Ryan was hesitant at first about the new students who had come and missed the old group, but Perry kept talking to Ryan and made an effort to reach out. They immediately had a connection after he realized they were both slightly scared. 

“At the end of the day, Ryan was asking if I was gonna come back next week already,” Perry said. 

Fredricks, Perry, and Yurchuck have all dedicated their weeks to making special friendships with other individuals, and it has changed them for the better. 

“I have realized that differently-abled people are capable of so much more than society thinks,” Yurchuck said. “When we can see other communities and see their worth, it shows us how incredible these people are. To see USD students want to be engaged in this community of awesome people is really empowering.” 

Seeing the humanity in all people has the ability to shape a community. A greater understanding of others can inspire positive change. It is clear that differently-abled people have much to offer and should be treated as such.

The University of San Diego prides itself on embracing diversity and cultivating culturally-conscious students. However, certain communities do not always get as much recognition as others. One of these communities is that of individuals who are differently-abled. Those who are differently-abled are often defined by stigmas and their perceived inabilities rather than the many strong qualities they possess. The Cool Kids Club gives this community opportunities to spend time with Toreros and learn from one another.