Dave Laurence White, Jr., a doctoral student in Special Education and Disability Studies in the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno, is changing the conversation around disability advocacy in Nevada and beyond. Recognized with a 2025 Congressional Recognition for Disability Advocacy from Senator Jacky Rosen, White is leading statewide efforts to create more inclusive spaces for individuals with disabilities. As a disabled and neurodivergent scholar, he brings a powerful blend of personal experience, professional expertise and academic insight to his work.

“This Congressional honor is not just a personal milestone — it’s a signal that disability justice is gaining the visibility and legitimacy it deserves,” said White. “We’re not just advocating for access. We’re building culture, leadership and systemic change.”

As a doctoral student, White has been mentored by his graduate advisor, Randall Owen, Ph.D., director of the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, where White had been working as a graduate assistant.

“Working with Dave over the last year has been a privilege as we build the Disability Studies side of our Ph.D. program. His passion and dedication to the field and to justice for people with disabilities in the community are unparalleled, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the impact that he has as part of this program and in his future career,” said Owen. “Disabled people still are regarded through a medical model and Dave’s work challenges the assumption and encourages not only a rights-based approach, but the recognition of disability culture and meaningful inclusion.”

A former Paralympic-classified snowboarder and three-time recipient of the Challenged Athletes Foundation Hero of Sport Award, White has long used his platform to uplift others. His advocacy is rooted in both determination and hope, with a focus on empowering neurodiverse youth and adults to find their voice. He serves as a facilitator with the Nevada Department of Inclusive Education, helping students turn Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals into tools for lifelong self-advocacy. He also works with Eye to Eye, a national mentoring organization for students who are neurodivergent.

“Through his Nevada Department of Education speaking engagements and work as a Nevada Student Leadership Transition Summit Facilitator, Dave stands out as a leader in his own life as well as an advocate for other youth and young adults with disabilities struggling to find their voices,” said Jennifer Kane, program specialist at the Nevada Department of Inclusive Education.

White recently launched Dave Laurence Disability Consults, which offers motivational keynotes, inclusion workshops and strategic consulting to schools, nonprofits and businesses. His approach centers on the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities, integrating disability culture and neurodiversity into every conversation. Through his consulting work, White hopes to shift how organizations think about accessibility, not just as a compliance requirement, but as a pathway to building stronger, more inclusive communities.

In addition to the Congressional Recognition, White’s recent honors include the 2025 Nevada Silver Paw Award for Outstanding Service and the 2025 Nevada Graduate Student Association Award for Outstanding Student. He is also a published author through both his academic work and his children’s book, "Jack and Pop-Pop’s Spacetacular Journey."

Earlier this year, White played a key role in the University’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week, delivering the opening keynote and leading conversations on inclusive learning, mental health and systemic change.

Through his scholarship, advocacy and entrepreneurship, White. is proving that disability inclusion is not just possible, it’s essential. His work exemplifies the core values of The Wolf Pack Way.