Digame: Sara Mendez is Advocating for BIPOC with ADHD

Sara Mendez (@saranne_wrap) is a 24-year-old Puerto Rican content creator using her platform to educate and empower on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD when she was 20 years old through her university. She’s using her platform to highlight the biases in the medical system that lead to the misdiagnosis and discrimination of BIPOC assigned female at birth. (AFABs). With more than 70K followers on Instagram and nearly 300K followers on TikTok, she’s reaching thousands and uplifting her comunidad along the way. Through her content she raises awareness about how autistic females and people of color are often overlooked or misdiagnosed and empowers others to advocate for themselves.

Which Latina(s) have had the greatest impact on your life and why?

The Latinas who have had the greatest impact on my life are undoubtedly the women who raised me: my mom and my abuela. My abuela passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2023, but both she and my mom unknowingly accommodated me growing up, even without any understanding of autism and ADHD or realizing they were likely undiagnosed themselves. They never made me feel out of place or broken. Through their unapologetic authenticity, they taught me that I didn’t need to hide who I truly am.

One of the most impactful lessons came from watching how my mom expresses joy. Autistic joy is a big emotion, and watching her—well into her 60s—jump, clap, giggle, and stim so freely made me feel safe to express my joy in whatever way felt natural to me, without worrying about being judged as ‘childish’ or ‘immature.’

My abuela, a quiet and simple woman, also shaped my life deeply. We shared peaceful moments—like waking her up at 4 AM to watch The Wiggles and enjoy some avena and leche con chocolate. We would go on walks together, collect dandelions, and she’d give me a bucket of water to play in the mud. Her gentle, patient nature was a source of comfort.

My mom, growing up as a gifted kid in poverty in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, joined the Army as a way out. She became a doctor and a lieutenant colonel, even going airborne—which I think is so cool. My mom and abuela are the strongest women I have ever known—not just in strength, but in their kindness and genuine nature.

These women inspire me in every way. They are not only the strongest but also the kindest and most genuine people I’ve ever known. As I continue to mature, I hope to become even a fraction of the women they were and still are.

If you could meet a Latina icon who is no longer alive, who would it be and why?

Sylvia Rivera. Her fierce advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights has always deeply inspired me. Sylvia is part of the reason the T is in LGBTQ+. In addition to her advocacy for transgender and queer rights, she was a fierce advocate for women’s rights, particularly for poor and marginalized women. Rivera worked to highlight the struggles of women of color, low-income women, and sex workers, recognizing that their experiences were often overlooked even within feminist and LGBTQ+ circles. Her commitment to fighting for all forms of social injustice—whether it was related to race, class, gender, or sexuality—left a lasting legacy that went far beyond just transgender advocacy.

Her work laid the foundation for so many of the rights and protections we have today, and I would love to hear firsthand about her experiences, her resilience, and what motivated her to keep pushing forward even in the face of adversity.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Two things:

“If you’re not feeling anything you’re missing everything.” Sometimes I go into a hypoarousal state where I am numb and dissociated. Feelings can be overwhelming, so it’s easier to shut down and avoid them. But it’s okay to feel. Avoidance does more harm than good in the long run. Learning to reframe my big emotions from “this is too much” to “this will pass. I am thankful to have the ability to feel such a wide range of emotions.”

“Do not water yourself down to be more digestible to someone. They can choke.” I refuse to get to a point again where I can’t remember who I was before the world told me who I should be. The world is too big to care about what other people think. I am enough just the way I am.

Who was the first person to believe in your dreams/goals?

Me. I have always believed that I can do anything I set my mind to. I have constantly had family and external people tell me that I’m dreaming too big and not being realistic, but I have always disagreed. So, my answer is me.

How do you stay connected to your cultural roots?

FOOD! Learning to cook authentic Puerto Rican food is such an accomplishment of mine. I am so thankful that I can cook for my friends and family and continue to share my culture as time goes on.

What do you wish more people understood about what you do?

My social media is neurodiversity focused. I started my pages because I noticed a lack of autistic and ADHD latina representation. I make videos educating and advocating, along with relatable meme type videos. It’s very frustrating getting so many hate comments and DMs accusing me of faking my disability, clout chasing, and making my disabilities my ‘entire personality.’ A lot of people still don’t understand that autism and ADHD do not have a ‘look.’ They are invisible disabilities. What is on social media, is not 100 percent of my life. I make videos because it helps me feel less alone and I hope they make others feel less alone too.

What motivates you?

Currently, I require ‘external’ motivation from friends and family to help me accomplish daily tasks, chores, etc. I struggle a lot with executive dysfunction and demand avoidance. On social media, I seem motivated and put together but in reality I’m not. I can’t figure out how to get my life together. When I have an actual in-person job, I become more motivated and productive because I am able to organize my time better. But when I’m unemployed with unlimited free time, I can’t function. I can’t even organize my days well enough to feed myself and brush my teeth. I just sit in bed thinking about how I have to do those things but can’t. ADHD meds are helpful, but they still aren’t enough. I have random bursts of motivation, but it’s not consistent.

How did you end up on the professional path you’re on now?

When I was 5 years old, I developed a special interest in animals. At 6, I decided exactly where I wanted to go to school and what degree I would be getting. I wanted to go to Virginia Tech and get my Bachelor’s degree in Animal and Poultry Sciences, Pre-Vet. At 17, I only applied to one school (Virginia Tech) and got accepted into this program. It was rough, but I graduated with honors. I have my Bachelors degree in Animal Sciences Pre-Vet and a double minor in Wildlife Conservation and Entomology.

But unfortunately, vet school is very expensive and most of my other career/school options will put me in debt or not provide a sustainable income. I’m lost and trying to get back into the zookeeping field for now. I’m wondering if I should just become a zookeeper, or if I should get my doctorate in Psychology since this is a new interest of mine. I’m also considering getting my vet tech certification.

If you’re asking about how I got into social media; I noticed a lack of autistic/ADHD Latina representation. About a year after my diagnosis, I developed a special interest in neurodiversity. So I started to make TikTok videos for fun to infodump about it, since I was bothering my friends and family by talking about it so much. Eventually my videos started going viral and now here I am. I’m very thankful.

What is your greatest professional achievement so far? Personal achievement?

Professional achievement: Getting my bachelor’s degree. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD or Autism until my 2nd year of college. So it was very difficult for me to do well in school. I struggled a lot with my mental health and focus. But once I was able to get ADHD medication, accommodations, and therapy, I was able to excel in school.

Personal achievement: Finding a mole cricket. I absolutely love mole crickets. They are my favorite insects. I have two tattoos of mole crickets. Since 2019, I dreamed of finding a mole cricket. But they aren’t as common in the North of the U.S as the southern states. In 2022 when I moved to Florida, I found my first mole cricket. This was the best day of my life.

What is a goal you have that you haven’t accomplished yet and what are you doing to get closer to accomplishing it?

Holding a live mole cricket. I really hope one day I come across a live mole cricket and I can feel it try to dig/burrow in my hands. I think about this all of the time. Besides holding a live mole cricket, my current goal is discovering a career path that I love. I want to be happy in whatever field I choose. For now, I’m just applying to jobs, traveling, and trying to be at peace with the idea that everything happens for a reason. What is meant to be will be. I’m trying to embrace the fact that I’m still young and I have time to figure out what is right for me.

What pop culture moment made you feel seen?

Aubrey Plaza on the Hot Ones show saying “I tell myself before every interview, be normal Aubrey. Just be likable. Get in there. Show ’em what you got, and get out. And somehow it just always goes south”
She was so real for that. It was nice knowing that I’m not alone. I always think this way with every social interaction. I try so hard to be ‘cool’ and ‘smooth’ but somehow I’m still awkward and weird.

How do you practice self care?

I have therapy at least once a week. I also try to journal most nights (although I go weeks without journaling because I forget). I go to the gym most days to get my energy out. I also play piano and paint/draw to express myself. I try to do everything I can to avoid my mental health getting bad again.

Quick Fire:

Shoutout an Instagram account that could use more love and tell us why you’re a fan:

@lifebynayeli Nayeli is a queer, AuDHD latina. I love how open she is sharing her experiences as an autistic and ADHD adult. She is a beautiful human inside and out. I truly admire her.

Shoutout your favorite Latina owned business and why:

I love Siete Foods. Specifically their lime tortilla chips. It’s been my latest hyperfixation food. It’s so delicious.