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Barrier Breakers, Inc.

Nearly 85% to our goal — help us close the gap for students like Hannah

Published 4 months ago • 1 min read

Dear Reader,

As we enter the final few hours of 2025, I wanted to share a brief update — and a story that shows what your support makes possible.

Thanks to this community, we are nearly 85% of the way to our end-of-year giving goal. We are so close to the finish line — and with your help, we can close the remaining gap and start the new year strong for the students who are counting on us.

I want you to meet Hannah, a Barrier Breakers Scholar.

video preview​

Hannah is a first-generation college graduate and an autistic student who discovered her calling to law through hands-on work with a forensic neuropsychologist, supporting complex civil cases involving elder abuse, fraud, and neuropsychological vulnerability. Her passion for law is rooted in empathy and a desire to advocate for people who are often overlooked or exploited.

Despite her impressive experience, the law school admissions process felt overwhelming. Hannah had no lawyers in her family, no close legal mentors, and found it especially difficult to write personal statements after years of scientific writing. She worried about how to sound genuine and whether admissions committees would truly see her.

That context matters — because only about 6% of lawyers identify as having a disability. Representation in the legal profession remains deeply limited, and students like Hannah too often navigate this path without guidance.

Through the Barrier Breakers Scholars Program, Hannah received personalized advising, essay coaching, and ongoing mentorship — support designed not just to get students in, but to stay with them.

Here’s how Hannah describes that experience, in her own words:

“There’s also just such a supportive community of these incredible scholars that you really feel like you get to know throughout meetings and chats and everything else. And in addition, it’s really valuable to know that this program will continue to support me even though I’ve filled in my applications, even when I’m getting into law schools and comparing scholarships and even check-ins when I’m in law school.”

And I’m thrilled to share the outcome of that support:

Hannah has been accepted to NYU Law.

Hannah’s story is why this work matters — and why closing this final funding gap is so important.

If you’re able to give before year’s end, your support will help ensure that first-generation and disabled students don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

👉🏽 Give here to help us reach 100%:​
https://givebutter.com/firstgen

Thank you for believing in students like Hannah — and for helping us build a legal profession that better reflects the world it serves.

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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Barrier Breakers, Inc.

Increasing access to higher education for first-generation and marginalized students

Barrier Breakers®, Inc. has supported 7,000+ students on the college and law school application journey. In addition to sliding scale services based on income, we partner with non-profit organizations and institutions to provide service pro bono services to high-need students. Learn more about our work and how you can continue to support access to higher education for everyone!

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