Emily Reester
Emily Reester (she/her) is a student at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA, pursuing a Doctorate in Physical Therapy with an anticipated graduation in January 2026. At age four, Emily was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and she has worn hearing aids since to engage with the world around her. Her advocacy journey began early, from participating in IEP and 504 planning meetings in her primary education to presenting at the Alexander Graham Bell (AG Bell) Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s bi-annual conference at sixteen. She continued sharing her story at local colleges and participated in advocacy events through AG Bell. She recently spoke at ACAPT's Inclusive Horizons Summit in June 2024. Inspired by physical therapy in high school, she’s passionate about helping others despite facing challenges as a person with an “invisible” disability. Emily believes that her disability has shaped her into the person she is today. To Emily, the humanities are an integral part of understanding lived experiences of individuals and help foster connections of community that are meaningful, beautiful, and vulnerable.
Member since 2019 | JM14274
