Yvette Ma is a senior at New York University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies.

As a neurodivergent individual who grew up undiagnosed due to limited access to mental health services, Yvette is driven to develop inclusive, accessible interventions to improve the well-being of underserved communities. In the summer of 2024, she interned with NYU Langone’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Service, where she co-led the development of a ten-week support group tailored for female-identifying adolescents on the autism spectrum. This initiative addresses longstanding gender disparities in ASD research and clinical care, covering topics such as positive autistic identity, gender and sexuality, and self-advocacy to foster wellness, self-acceptance, and community belonging for this often-overlooked group.

Building on this experience for her Mountaintop RIVET Fellowship, Yvette plans to implement the support group in person while expanding its reach by creating accessible self-care and identity-affirming resources for those without access to ASD services. In the long term, Yvette envisions advocating for neurodiversity to celebrate the strengths of neurodivergent minds and leading equitable, scalable mental healthcare initiatives to empower marginalized populations.