Lina Irawan
Every summer, Benetech—a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities through software for social good—welcomes a new generation of talent through the Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) program. This summer, that mantle was taken up by Kweku Akese, a student whose personal journey with invisible disabilities and a passion for storytelling made him a natural fit for the organization’s marketing and communications team.
His tenure at Benetech was more than a professional internship; it was a profound intersection of personal history and systemic advocacy. As Akese reflects on his time with the team, his narrative offers a poignant look at the urgent need for inclusive technology and the transformative power of a culture built on empathy.
Main Facts: A Convergence of Mission and Personal Experience
At the core of Benetech’s mission is the belief that software can bridge the gap for individuals who are marginalized by traditional systems. For Akese, this mission was not an abstract concept; it was a lived reality. Growing up, Akese navigated the complexities of living with sickle cell disease, a genetic condition characterized by chronic fatigue and unpredictable pain. Because the disease often lacks outward physical markers, it is frequently categorized as an "invisible disability," leading to a pervasive silence in classrooms and social spaces.
Motivated by his own experiences, Akese authored Amira’s Amazing Day, a children’s book designed to foster early awareness of sickle cell disease. His arrival at Benetech was an extension of this work—an effort to amplify the voices of those often relegated to the "outskirts of conversations." By integrating his background in creative storytelling with Benetech’s advocacy-driven marketing, Akese sought to highlight the necessity of building educational systems that are designed, from the ground up, for all learners.
Chronology: From Personal Advocacy to Corporate Impact
Akese’s summer at Benetech followed a deliberate path of engagement, starting from his initial induction into the company culture to his deep dive into the technical requirements of accessible communication.
- The Early Foundation: Long before his internship, Akese spent years navigating educational environments that were not designed to accommodate his specific needs. This "early navigation," as he terms it, provided him with the diagnostic tools to identify where systemic failures occur.
- The PICS Selection: Through Princeton’s PICS program, Akese joined Benetech to support the marketing and communications team. His initial goal was to understand how a global organization translates complex, tech-heavy social good initiatives into relatable, human-centered narratives.
- The Onboarding Experience: Contrary to the often-sterile environment of corporate internships, Akese found the Benetech culture to be uniquely grounded. His first exposure to company-wide virtual meetings shattered his expectations; he encountered a workspace characterized by genuine receptivity and interpersonal warmth, rather than rigid hierarchy.
- The Technical Pivot: Midway through the summer, Akese transitioned from general marketing strategy to the nuances of digital accessibility. He moved from viewing graphic design as a purely aesthetic "blank canvas" to viewing it as a tool for inclusion—meticulously considering color contrast, screen reader compatibility, and font accessibility.
- The Reflection Phase: As his internship concluded, Akese synthesized his findings, concluding that while individual advocacy is vital, systemic change—backed by the rapid adoption of tools like Bookshare—is the ultimate requirement for equity in education.
Supporting Data: The Imperative for Accessible Technology
The work Akese engaged in is underscored by a sobering reality in modern education. Despite technological advancements, the "digital divide" remains a significant barrier for students with disabilities.
Data from the field of inclusive education consistently demonstrates that when students are provided with accessible learning materials—such as those distributed through platforms like Bookshare—their academic performance, confidence, and graduation rates improve significantly. However, these tools are often underutilized or overlooked by school districts that fail to prioritize accessibility in their procurement processes.
Akese’s observations highlight a critical gap: the misalignment between the promise of universal education and the reality of classroom resources. When students with disabilities are forced to struggle within a system not built for them, the "hidden cost" is the loss of intellectual potential and self-esteem. Benetech’s focus on providing accessible digital formats serves as a direct intervention, mitigating this burden by allowing learners to engage with content in ways that suit their specific physiological and cognitive needs.
Official Responses: Cultivating a Culture of Accessibility
The culture at Benetech, as experienced by Akese, serves as a model for how organizations can walk the talk of inclusivity. He noted that the company does not merely advocate for people with disabilities; it employs them. This internal diversity of perspective ensures that the products produced are not just theoretical solutions but practical, refined tools that have been stress-tested by the very community they serve.
"Knowing that some of Benetech’s own employees are part of the communities Benetech serves was incredibly eye-opening to me," Akese shared. This internal feedback loop creates a unique corporate environment where empathy is a metric of success. For a young intern, this was a formative lesson: a mission-driven organization is only as strong as its commitment to internal equity.
Implications: The Road Ahead for Inclusive Education
Akese’s reflection on his internship carries several profound implications for the future of the nonprofit sector and the educational landscape at large.
1. The Necessity of Universal Design
The most significant takeaway from Akese’s work is the shift in mindset from "designing for accessibility" to "universal design." By realizing that a high-contrast graphic or a properly tagged image is not just a "bonus" but a fundamental requirement for inclusive communication, Akese demonstrates that accessibility must be baked into the design process, not applied as an afterthought.
2. Bridging the "Urgency Gap"
Akese explicitly calls for "greater urgency" in the adoption of educational technologies. The slow pace at which school systems integrate proven accessibility tools is a disservice to the promise of universal education. The implication is clear: innovation is only half the battle; the other half is the political and administrative will to implement these technologies across the board.
3. Turning Personal Struggle into Systemic Purpose
Perhaps the most lasting implication of Akese’s time at Benetech is his philosophy on the "trade." He posits that the years he spent struggling to make a rigid system "see" him have now been transformed into a career-long commitment to making that same system see others. This shift from reactive survival to proactive advocacy is a blueprint for how young leaders can leverage their personal challenges to drive broader societal change.
Conclusion: A Future Defined by Visibility
Kweku Akese’s summer at Benetech serves as a poignant reminder that while technology provides the scaffolding for inclusion, it is human stories that provide the blueprint. As he looks toward his future, he carries with him the realization that the "silence" he spent his life speaking into is beginning to break.
Whether through his children’s books, his design work, or his advocacy for educational reform, Akese remains committed to the principle that every learner deserves a system that recognizes their existence. His internship was not just a temporary role, but a confirmation of a path forward. In his own words, "Every hard year I spent trying to make a system see me is a year I now spend trying to make that same system see someone else. If that’s the trade, I’ll take it every time."
As Benetech continues its mission to close the opportunity gap, interns like Akese remind us that the work is not merely about code and software—it is about ensuring that no student is left to navigate the silence alone.
Iffa Jayyana
Suro Senen
