Since joining the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) through a paid internship program in October 2024, Yuhan Liu has brought light, positivity, and a deep sense of purpose to her role. As of May 2025, Yuhan officially transitioned from intern to Office Assistant — a milestone that speaks to her hard work, dedication, and the impact she’s made in just a few short months.

In her role, Yuhan supports the DOR team with essential administrative tasks, including preparing and mailing documents, creating internal newsletters, and assisting with data entry. “I love my job because I get to help people with disabilities,” Yuhan shared — a simple yet powerful reflection of her passion for supporting others through her work.

Yuhan’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Living with cerebral palsy has affected her mobility and speech, and for years, she felt underestimated. “When I was little, people would often underestimate me, saying I couldn’t do certain things just because I had a disability,” she said in a recent speech at the San Diego Friendship Walk. “I started to doubt myself and not express my thoughts to others because I was too afraid of being judged.”

But everything began to shift when Yuhan joined the Best Buddies Jobs Program in the fall of 2023. With the support of her job coach, she worked on building her confidence, practicing interviews, attending job fairs, and identifying her strengths. “Once I entered adulthood, I started to not care about what other people thought of me and started to follow my dreams,” she shared.

Her dedication paid off when she was offered the internship at the DOR. With help from her job coach, she prepared for her interview and was thrilled to be selected. Since then, Yuhan has become more than just a team member — she’s a valued friend and a source of inspiration. “When I started working at the DOR, I started opening up to my coworkers and we have become good friends,” she said.

Yuhan’s impact goes beyond her day-to-day responsibilities. In December, she filmed and edited a powerful video that shared her personal journey and challenged assumptions about disability and employment. The video was showcased at a company event and received widespread praise for its honesty and inspiration.

Yuhan is also active in the Best Buddies Friendship Program and recently matched with a new buddy. “Although we are still getting to know each other, I can say that our friendship will bloom into something beautiful,” she said. “To me, Best Buddies means inclusion. Best Buddies has made me feel included and an active member within my community.”

As she continues to grow professionally and personally, Yuhan’s story is a reminder that with support, opportunity, and belief in oneself, anything is possible. We are so proud of everything she has accomplished — and we know she’s just getting started.

To learn more or join our transformative programs, visit: https://www.bestbuddies.org/california/programs/.