Misunderstood Moments: Seattle-Area Youth Advocacy
Nazzaro Law is honored to help amplify Misunderstood Moments, a youth-led storytelling program by the nonprofit Lens of Youth, across Sammamish, Issaquah, and the greater Seattle area. Misunderstood Moments, pairs real IDD stories with original artwork to turn misunderstanding into compassion—and invites the community to pledge inclusion.
Pledge to give hope. Stand for compassion.
Across our communities, many behaviors related to intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are misread. The result is isolation, not inclusion. Misunderstood Moments changes that by sharing real stories from people with IDD—paired with original artwork from youth creators—to help all of us slow down, look again, and choose compassion.
How the Program Works
Stories + Art → Understanding → Inclusion.
Each Misunderstood Moment pairs a true, lived experience from the IDD community with an original illustration. The art invites us into the moment; the story names the feeling; and the call to action makes inclusion concrete:
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Story + Art: Each submission describes a real, lived experience. A youth artist then creates an illustration that helps viewers feel the moment—not just read it.
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Pledge: After browsing the stories, visitors are invited to add their names to a community pledge for kindness, inclusion, and understanding.
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Keep it Moving: The team shows up at local events and activations so people discover the project in the places they already are. (Example: Issaquah Schools Foundation Monster Mash 5K on October 25, 2025.)
Youth-Led & Community-Rooted
Misunderstood Moments is powered by Lens of Youth, a Sammamish-based, youth-led nonprofit that serves the community through storytelling and photography at local cultural and charitable events—including the City of Sammamish Lunar New Year Celebration, City of Issaquah AAPI Heritage Event, and events hosted by the Issaquah Schools Foundation. Their presence across Sammamish, Issaquah, and the greater Seattle area makes their message visible where it matters most—right at home.
This summer, the group also participated in the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Entrepreneurs Challenge, demonstrating the kind of heart-driven leadership we’re proud to support as a title sponsor of the event.
Meet Lux
You’ll also meet Lux, the program’s bright, friendly mascot. Lux is a small star who reminds us that not all light looks the same—and that’s the point. Lux gives kids (and grown-ups) a simple way to talk about difference: pause, notice, and choose kindness. Lux embodies the project’s promise to turn a single misunderstood moment into shared understanding.
Why Nazzaro Law Supports Misunderstood Moments
As a law firm rooted in the Seattle area, our work is about people, dignity, and access. We believe legal service and community service belong together. Misunderstood Moments brings those values to life by acknowledging the lived experiences of those in our community and transforming awareness into action. We firmly believe that as part of the community, we have an obligation to support our youth leadership. Moreover, we recognize that our clients, referral partners, and friends are too often managing these lived experiences in secret - we are here to support these families however we can by showing up and being part of their community.
When stories are seen and believed, communities change. That’s a mission we’re honored to amplify.
About Lens of Youth (Parent Nonprofit)
Lens of Youth (LOY) is a youth-led 501(c)(3) founded in 2023 and based in Sammamish. LOY’s mission is to advocate for individuals with IDD by sharing their stories through multiple “lenses”—not only the camera lens, but also the lens of compassion. Misunderstood Moments is LOY’s flagship program and public-facing hub.
Let's Keep the Momentum (2 Simple Ways to Help)!
At Nazzaro PLLC, we’re committed to supporting youth leadership and inclusive communities across Sammamish, Issaquah, and greater Seattle. We invite our clients, colleagues, and neighbors to stand with the IDD community:
- Take the Pledge
Add your name to a short pledge to “see the person, not the behavior.” It’s a public act of support that signals to families, students, teachers, and neighbors that inclusion matters. - Share Your Experience (Survey)
This survey highlights the experience of being misunderstood for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through exhibitions of real-life stories, illustrated artistically.
DISCLAIMER: The materials and information contained in this article are for informational purposes only. These materials do not constitute legal advice nor does engaging with this website create an attorney-client relationship. Accordingly, you should seek legal counsel from an attorney knowledgeable about the specifics of your situation before taking or refraining from action. Nazzaro PLLC has attorneys that are licensed to practice law in Washington, Texas, Washington D.C., California, and New York.