• SENIA World Changer

IntroductionNomination Form

The SENIA World Changer Award recognizes an individual who actively promotes inclusion in their community while supporting SENIA ‘s Mission and Vision.

Award Benefits

  • Featured on SENIA social media and publications
  • Receive a World Changer Certificate of recognition for their contribution in promoting inclusion.
  • Recognized in the World Changer presentation at the annual SENIA Conference.

Who May Submit Nominations?

Nominations may be made by:

  • Teachers
  • Principals
  • Related service providers
  • Friends
  • Parents

Nomination Requirements

  • Nominations must be submitted digitally via the nomination form.
  • All materials submitted become the property of SENIA and will not be returned.
  • Each candidate must be nominated by one individual (e.g., teacher, principal, related service provider, friend, parent).
  • The nominator does not need to be a SENIA member.
  • Double-check that the nominee ‘s name is spelled correctly on ALL materials, as it will be printed on his or her Certificate of Accomplishment.
  • A photo of the candidate must be submitted with the nomination materials.  This photo will be used in a presentations and promotions such as SENIA social media.

Deadline: Ongoing

SENIA World Changer Award Digital App - Full

Section 1. - General Information

Section 2. - Nomination Prompts

Section 3. - Confirmation

Past Award Winners

Sarah Devotion Garner October 2024 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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We are pleased to recognize Sarah for her exceptional contributions to Global Neurodiverse Families, a vital support network for families navigating neurodiversity. Sarah embodies the qualities of compassion, dedication, and resilience, making…
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Smrithy Rajesh September 2024 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Celebrating the remarkable achievements of Smrithy Rajesh, a dedicated advocate for inclusion, her family has turned personal challenges into a powerful movement for change. As a parent of a special needs child, she often felt anxious in public…
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NUR AFIQA AMANI AUGUST 2024 SENIA WORLD CHANGER AWARD RECIPIENT

Congratulations to Nur Afiqa Amani on being recognized for her impactful and inclusive project! Afiqa's work demonstrates a deep commitment to supporting the wellbeing and mental health of all students, including those who are neurodivergent…
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KATE BOWLER MAY 2024 SENIA WORLD CHANGER AWARD RECIPIENT

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It is with great pleasure that we announce Kate as the recipient of the 2024 SENIA World Changer Award for her tireless efforts to promote inclusion for children in Cambodia. For over a decade, Kate has been a passionate advocate for ensuring…
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Raymond Weil Garagus February 2024 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

Meet Mr. Raymond Weil Garagus, an exceptional inclusion teacher based in Keningau, Sabah. Passionate about empowering students with learning disorders and hearing impairment, he goes above and beyond in his role. In addition to his teaching…
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Manobina Chakraborty November 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

Based in India, Manobina Chakraborty is a highly skilled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant, as well as a Neurodiversity Coach and Learning Leader. With nearly two decades of experience in the field, she holds certifications as a Special…
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Nurfaizah Binti Mohd Shokri October 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

Nurfaizah Binti Mohd Shokri is the head of the special education department at her school, Keningau Vocational College, which is the only inclusive vocational college in Malaysia that offers inclusive programmes for neurodivergent students in…
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Anvi Vijay Zanzarukia September 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

Anvi Vijay Zanzarukia has become known as the “Rubber Girl of India.” She began learning yoga at the age of 4 and since then has shared her unique journey with others.  Yoga has not only changed her life but the lives of so many other children…
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Kitsie LaRock August 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

Kitsie LaRock has a big heart and is always looking for ways to implement universal design into her work at Bernie LaRock & Sons Construction. Just days before the inaugural event of a newly constructed timber frame pavilion, Kitsie installed…
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Hoang Minh Duong May 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Meet Minh, a 12th grade student at UNIS Hanoi who is proudly neurodivergent.  He displays his talents as a guest writer for the school newspaper. One of Minh’s internship pathways this year is co-teaching 10th-grade PE. Minh showed incredible…
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Korok Biswas April 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Korok Biswas is India’s first ever dance performer with down syndrome to be credited in India’s Book of Records. From an early age, Korok and his parents believed with love and support that Korok would pursue his passion of dance.  He trained…
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Kan Fook Keong March 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Kan Fook Keong is a special education teacher in Sabah, Malaysia. Despite originating in Selangor that is more well-developed, Kan chose to stay teaching at a vocational school in the rural areas of Sabah, the least developed state, since 2012.…
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Sarah Anne Bulman January 2023 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Sarah has always had a unique perspective on life. Her neurodiversity enables her to see beauty and value in unexpected ways. Sarah manages to find meaningful ways to share her thoughts, feelings, and part of herself through Art. All her paintings…
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Lana Abon October 2022 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Lana Abon is a special education teacher in the rural area of Sabah, a Malaysian island state. She teaches students with hearing impairments and students with learning disorders. She has successfully trained three special needs students to qualify…
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Alexius Ignatius September 2022 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Alexius Ignatius was the first Malaysian to win a gold medal at an international art festival with his animated tale. The monthly art festivals hosted by Festival Bridges headquartered in Europe was the one of the most competitive art contests…
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Avyasvina Istiniza Anak Unong August 2022 World Changer Award Recipient

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Avyasvina Istiniza Anak Unong is a special educational needs educator who has played a major role in training the special needs learners at her school to partake in various art competitions through alternative means.  This has resulted in unprecedented…
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Hajime Chiba June 2022 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Hajime is a voice of self-awareness, acceptance and inclusion. He is a 9 year old boy, who currently attends Concordia International School, in Hanoi, Vietnam.  He was diagnosed with ADHD in grade 2 and strategies were put in place to support…
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Xueyue (Lele) Shen May 2022 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Lele is a grade 2 student from Keystone Academy in Beijing, China who is building a better, more inclusive school community, one classmate at a time.  He is a curious and intuitive boy who is always striving to become a better learner.  While…
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Aaron Yong Tzy Seng April 2022 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Aaron Yong Tzy Seng is from Sabah, Malaysia and has many skills like making beautiful furniture or telling an animated tale. The teachers at his school discovered Aaron’s talent for the English language and his ability to proficiently narrate…
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Jackob Yoshua Jeffry February 2022 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Jackob Yoshua Jeffry, along with his partner, has paved the way for animated storytelling to be regarded as a practical and effective means for learners to communicate their ideas and express their artistry. In 2020, the pair produced a series…
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Courtney Wong January 2022 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Courtney is a student at Torrey Pines High School in California. She was inspired to promote inclusion in her community by her younger siblings who both are diagnosed with special needs. Courtney wanted to help young individuals in the special…
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Nurazwin Liyana Binti Abdullah December 2021 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Nurazwin Liyana Binti Abdullah has proven that individuals with a hearing impairment can always find different ways to showcase their talents through her monologue and poetry performances in sign language. Nurazwin Liyana 's monologue performance…
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Rashwin Kalithas November 2021 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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At just 4 years of age, Rashwin has made it into the Malaysia Book of Records for being able to identify the most number of international flags.  As a child with autism,  the impact of this award has helped raise awareness of the strengths…
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Where are they now? Andrea G. Zubiri

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Have you heard of the accomplished freelance photographer who has fostered advocacy and awareness for inclusion in the Philippines? Her name is Andrea G. Zubiri and at just 29 years of age she is a role model who is making a difference in the…
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Dymphna Simon September 2021 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Dymphna Simon has pioneered sign language poetry performance as an alternative for Malaysian special needs individuals to partake in performing arts that often require oral skills. She recorded her own sign language poetry entitled "Ngakak"…
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Muhamad Fazri Bin Hassan July 2021 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Muhamad Fazri Bin Hassan is a special education teacher at SK Gas Sandakan in Malaysia. He believes that learning through play will provide meaningful learning for his students. He has been featured in many social media platforms for his creativity…
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Iris van der Velden June 2021 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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As part of her IBO MYP Personal Project, Iris researched her diagnosis of ADHD. The final product of her project was a presentation to the elementary teachers about ADHD, its causes, impacts and what teachers can do to support ADHD in the classroom.  Iris…
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Muhammad Aizat Izzuddin Bin Azme May 2021 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Aizat Izzuddin is an art enthusiast as well as a poetry performer, a storyteller, a voice actor, an illustrator and an orator. He, along with his classmate, narrated three short stories and recited three poems at the art festival "2020 Tiny…
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Lex Hamilton April 2021 SENIA World Changer Award Recipient

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Lex is an Early Years professional from the UK with a PGCert in Special Educational Needs Coordination. She has worked with children for 20 years in various countries including Australia and Rwanda. She moved to Cambodia with her husband in…
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