Oliver Stern

Miami Beach, FL | 16

2017 Award Recipient

Oliver Stern was born deaf, but after receiving cochlear implants and undergoing 20 surgeries, he was able to recover his hearing. As he grew up, Oliver realized other children with disabilities were not as fortunate. In response, he launched his project Our Abilities, which has educated over 900 students at North Beach Elementary about issues concerning disability advocacy. Our Abilities is a two-part program, the first of which includes an educational initiative called “One World Many Abilities,” which coordinates with the school’s teachers and principal to bring in guest speakers and raise awareness. The second component of the project is “Oliver’s Hearing Aid Bank,” which provides equipment and services to the hearing impaired. Thus far, $60,000 have been raised and over 60 children have been helped. In addition, Oliver was appointed by a Miami Beach commissioner to serve on the Miami Beach Disability Access Committee.