Peer & Family Support Program Spotlight: Ligia Andrade Zúñiga
When Ligia Andrade Zúñiga sees the opportunity for advocacy and change, she takes it. As a first-generation Latinx American with a disability, Zúñiga has spent the past decade working to improve opportunities for underrepresented communities.
“It is important for our community leaders to reflect the people they represent,” says Zúñiga. “I identify as a female person of color with a disability, and I want to be sure these different perspectives are included in policy decisions.”
Zúñiga started her work as a champion for the disability community just months after she sustained a C5-6 complete spinal cord injury from a car accident in 2009 when she was 28 years old.
“The peer support program in the hospital saved my life. It gave me purpose again,” says Zúñiga. “It is such a mutual relationship. It helps peers see what’s possible and where they can go, and it helps mentors remember where they came from and recognize their accomplishments.”
After several years in the peer program at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Zúñiga trained to become a Reeve Foundation Peer & Family Support Program mentor.
“I’ve met many people over the years who mentored me, and I had to pay it forward,” says Zúñiga. “The relationships you build are priceless, and making new connections is my favorite part. I enjoy showing people the possibilities.”
And Zúñiga certainly has a lot of incredible work to share.
Her passion for disability justice initially brought her to the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, where she worked for two years to help others transition out of nursing homes. Now, she is chair of the California State Independent Living Council, where she works to collaborate with statewide organizations to advocate policy changes to the governor’s office for people with disabilities in California.
Another area where Zúñiga saw a need was in sexuality resources for people living with a disability.
“I was already separated from my husband at the time of my accident, and there didn’t seem to be a lot of information available about changes in your body and self-esteem after an injury, especially for higher-level quadriplegics,” says Zúñiga.
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In 2013, she became a director at Sexability, and in 2018, she co-founded the Bay Area Sexuality and Disability Network, which provides access to sexuality education, information, and services for the disability community. Zúñiga also participated in Everlasting Love, a 40-episode YouTube series focusing on different perspectives and relationships for people living with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Part of Zúñiga’s motivation as an activist is to combat the disability stigma in the Latinx community.
“Our culture is very community-oriented, and we are very helpful to each other; however, there is a perception that people with a disability are sick. We are often lumped in with seniors,” says Zúñiga, whose parents emigrated from Guatemala in the late 1970s. “There is not much room for us to be a productive part of the community, but I’m working to change that.”
Ten years ago, Zúñiga became a commissioner at the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities to help provide education, advocacy, and awareness for county residents with a disability. The same year, she joined the board of directors of the Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities. Two years later, she became the chair of the San Mateo County Public Authority Advisory Committee.
“Disability is a culture, and we are part of human diversity. I do the work I do because there are not many of us, and if we aren’t present, people will make decisions for us,” says Zúñiga. “Some people with disabilities aren’t able to be advocates. I’m fortunate that I can help, and that’s why I do so many things.”
In 2020, Zúñiga was elected to the board of trustees for the San Mateo Union High School District. The board represents six cities, 10 schools and over 9,000 students. In 2024, she will become the board president.
“I was always involved while my kids were in school because I wanted to provide visibility and representation for parents with a disability,” says Zúñiga, whose two sons are now adults. “I want to be sure all students have access to the resources and services they need to succeed, whether they have a disability, are multilingual learners or have any other underserved or underrepresented identity.”
Even with all her work to advocate for so many different communities, she believes that peer support is one of the best things someone can do.
“It is truly a life-changer. Even if you have many friends and family who support you, they are not experiencing the same things you are. It’s different,” says Zúñiga. “Mentoring gives you hope to see what is possible. It allows you to set goals for yourself and is excellent for mental health. It eliminates ideas of failure and improves self-esteem. Most of all, it keeps you visible and provides the validation to see what the future can hold.”
You can request a Peer & Family Support Program mentor here.