by Anjali S., 15
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Hellen Keller
As humans, we are a small speck in this vast universe. We were not the first species to inhabit the planet, and we won’t be the last. So, what makes us important? We need to rely on each other to grow and learn. It is this desire to help others that is an innate quality in humans; we feel a vocation to help. Vocation is a calling. It is a feeling that guides us to make choices that attract us to different paths of life. It gives us, as individuals, a strong sense of purpose. For Lauren Payer, teaching has always been her passion. This passion inspired her to work with her sister, Kaylin Torres, and best friend, Chrissy D’Amico, to start the Blue Dot Foundation—a community-connection project promoting physical, cognitive, and social health for adults with and without neuro and developmental disabilities.
She has been working as a special education teacher and a behavioral analyst, specifically with adults, for the last 15 years. It was in her line of work that she noticed that “there was such a need to create quality services and programs for young (neurodivergent) adults aging out of high school who wanted to have social interaction and meaningful purpose in their lives.” Her aim in collaborating in creating the Blue Dot Foundation was to create an organization that would help fulfill that need and to have something that was fostering really meaningful connections while helping neurodivergent adults feel a sense of independence and autonomy.
Lauren begins her day early in the morning at 8 a.m. She starts by teaching classes at the Blue Dot Foundation that help teach the members of the community about brain health and wellness with visual aids such as Kahoot, presentations, and YouTube. She utilizes tools like the “wellness wheel” to help adults make more health-conscious decisions. These tools help the members to learn in a visual manner and understand the importance of being well in all spheres of life. In her classes, Lauren emphasizes the importance of “not only being physically well but also mentally well, emotionally well, spiritually well, and socially well.”
For her, the idea of doing this project by herself is unimaginable. Her co-founders, her sister, and her best friend are her biggest motivators. Having them with her has given her so much strength and encouragement. There is a deep bond of love and understanding between the three of them, and they raise each other up. “It is a joy to be able to do this as a vocation with them,” Lauren said.
“It’s challenging to get out there, to find people who know what we’re (the foundation) doing and want to support that,” she said.
Blue Dot, as a foundation, holds multiple events that contribute to creating a holistic environment. From book clubs to pool parties to dance parties to volunteering at the local grocery store to bag groceries. This gives every member of the community the chance to participate in multiple activities, learn new skills, and develop hobbies. The foundation conducts this range of activities to allow its members to create new experiences that help them grow as individuals.
Lauren finds her work at Blue Dot is extremely rewarding. She believes the world can be a truly kind place, and we have many lessons to learn from others’ stories. She highlights that even the smallest act of kindness can have a remarkable impact on someone else’s life.
Her hope with the foundation is “to change the mindsets, to change perception, and to make the world a more inclusive place.” The work of Blue Dot is not just about providing services but remodeling mindsets and giving recognition to the values that people with disabilities bring to the table.
Through her many years in the industry, she has learned that when we as a society work together, we can create an impactful change with the hopes of changing the life of one person one person’s life for the better. She has created a long-lasting impact on the lives of an entire community. To make a difference, all you need is a kind and caring heart and the willingness to help people. Lauren is that person. She starts and ends every day with the same goal in mind—to help someone who needs it.
Raised in New Jersey, Lauren has truly given back to the community. She is a person who is so full of love and happiness and finds joy in helping other people become the best versions of themselves.
Bridge Ink 