TBTo Be Like Me
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About To Be Like Me
To Be Like Me brings students, teachers, and community groups into direct conversation with people living with disabilities. The result is education that feels personal, practical, and hard to forget. Its programs are built to help people in North Texas move from awareness to empathy, kindness, and compassion.
What sets To Be Like Me apart is who leads the learning: people living with disabilities sharing their own stories and answering questions in the room. That perspective runs through field trips, playground lessons, staff development, community days, and virtual sessions, so the message stays grounded in real experience.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Field trips
Two-hour interactive disability awareness experiences for students and teachers, covering at least 10 areas of disability and led by LEADers who live with disabilities.
Playground experiences
A 1.5-hour inclusive playground learning experience at the Ann Eisemann Inclusive Playground in Cottonwood Park that introduces universal design.
Presentations and panel discussions
Modified in-person programs in the Dallas area with 3 to 4 LEADers for schools, colleges, hospitals, organizations, and service-based businesses.
Staff development
Empathy and connection training for teams, with teachers able to earn 2 hours of TEA-approved CPE credit.
Community day programs
Family and group learning experiences that bring participants together for disability awareness education.
Online learning with LEADers
Virtual interactions for high school, college, and graduate students, typically 45 to 60 minutes long.
Teacher resources and pre- and post-field trip lessons
English and Spanish lessons and resources that support learning before and after field trips.
About this work
Mission
To encourage empathy, kindness, and compassion through disability awareness programs led by people living with disabilities.
Who they serve
Students, teachers, service-based businesses, and community groups in North Texas.
Their impact
- 6,401 students and teachers participated in in-person programs across North Texas in 2024-2025.
- 300 community members and employees from service-based businesses experienced the on-site interactive program in 2024-2025.
- Approximately 920 participants and employees were educated through about 24 off-site programs or virtual classes in 2024-2025.
How your donation helps
- Program supplies for one field trip program
- A field trip experience for 8 students and teachers
- A 1.5-hour inclusive playground learning experience
- A presentation or panel discussion for a special group
- Employment for LEADers for one field trip experience
- A 2-hour field trip experience for a group of 80 students
- A 2-hour training for a college, graduate school, or corporation
- One month of transportation for LEADers
- A professional LEADer learning video
- Equipment needed for assistive technology
- A full To Be Like Me experience for 8 to 10 groups
Need help?
How someone in need can access To Be Like Me’s services.
Schools, teachers, service-based businesses, and community groups can request field trips, presentations, virtual classes, staff development, or community day programming through the contact form or by emailing the organization.
In their words
"It's a challenge to find meaningful and authentic ways to teach empathy. To Be Like Me hits the nail on the head. Truly. Thank you." - Mrs. Thompson, 4th Grade Teacher
"I would recommend this to anyone, if every student could attend, I think the world would be a better place!" - Mrs. Roby, 4th Grade Teacher
In the news
Recent independent coverage of this organization.
- To Be Like Me Celebrates Compassion—Through Fashiondmagazine.comdmagazine.com reports that To Be Like Me held its annual fundraiser, Fashion for Compassion, featuring a fashion show and auction to support field trips and programming led by people with disabilities. The article also describes a major bidding effort that included a trip to Paris and an offer from designer Nancy Volpe Beringer to cover materials costs for the models to keep her adaptive designs.
- JUST IN: 2026 Crystal Charity Ball To Benefit Eight Dallas County Children’s Non-Profitsmysweetcharity.comThe article lists To Be Like Me as one of the eight Dallas County children’s nonprofits selected as beneficiaries of the 2026 Crystal Charity Ball, including a pledged amount for program expansion. It also states the broader fundraising goal and that the committee completed its beneficiary selection process.
- The Greater Good – To Be Like Me (featured on pages 46-49)issuu.com
- Tegna Foundation Grant Recipients: To Be Like Me, Vogel Alcove & Shaken Baby Alliancewfaa.com
- NBC DFW – Support the Meaningful Work of To Be Like Menbcdfw.com
Grant support
$311,289 from 18 funders · through 2024 (IRS 990 records).
- COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS INC — $40,633 (2024)THIS GRANT IS DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.
- THE JORDAN SPIETH FAMILY FOUNDATION — $30,000 (2024)TO PROVIDE THE ORGANIZATION WITH THE FUNDS NEEDED TO FULFILL THEIR GOALS LOCALLY.
- CHARLES H PHIPPS FOUNDATION — $20,000 (2024)CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
- The Rees-Jones Foundation — $20,000 (2024)Funding to support the Disability Awareness Program.
- The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family — $11,000 (2024)General & Unrestricted
- STEPHEN M SEAY FOUNDATION INC — $10,000 (2024)HELP OTHERS
- The Smalling Family Foundation — $250 (2024)Provide assistance to disabled.
- TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION — $56 (2024)DONATIONS TO COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS UNDER "MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM."
Events
2026 Fall Community Day
A Community Day at Greenwood Hills Learning Center in Richardson scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles To Be Like Me has shared.
Volunteer opportunities
- Ongoing weekday shifts for field trip programs
- Occasional evening or weekend events
- Specific project opportunities
- Apply to be a LEADer
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- D Magazine nomination for Emerging Organization of the Year (2020)
- 2025 Finalist for Innovation in Education
In the media
- D Magazine, "To Be Like Me Celebrates Compassion—Through Fashion", coverage of the organization's fashion-focused event and awareness work.
- WFAA, "Project Runway Alum Joins Fashion for Compassion", coverage of the organization's Fashion for Compassion event.
- NBC DFW, "Support the Meaningful Work of To Be Like Me", feature on the organization's disability awareness work.
- Fox 4 News Good Day, coverage of the organization's disability awareness programming.
- Dallas Doing Good, "To Be Like Me raising disability awareness with empathy and inclusion", feature on the organization's mission and programs.
- DFW Child, "People Doing Good" feature on the organization's work in the community.
Press & mentions
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What happens during a field trip?
Field trips are two-hour interactive experiences that cover at least 10 areas of disability. Students and teachers meet LEADers, ask questions, and learn through one-on-one interaction.
Who can take part in the virtual learning option?
The virtual learning option is designed for high school, college, and graduate students. Each interaction usually lasts 45 to 60 minutes.
What other program formats are available besides field trips?
The organization also offers playground experiences, presentations and panel discussions, staff development, community day programs, and online learning with LEADers.
Are lessons available in more than one language?
Yes. The teacher resources include lessons in English and Spanish.
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