Olivia Carofano ’26 attended Windward from grades 2 through 7, going on to School of the Holy Child for eighth grade and then New Canaan High School. There, she discovered a talent for writing and joined the school newspaper, eventually rising to editor-in-chief.
In that role, Carofano began to notice patterns among her peers. Some were struggling with schoolwork in ways that felt familiar to her; others, she learned, had learning disabilities that had gone unrecognized or were frequently misunderstood. Drawing on the strategies she had developed at Windward, Carofano shared tools with friends who often responded with the same observation: “I wish someone had shown me that sooner.”
Those conversations stayed with her. Aware of how little understanding still existed among her peers — and troubled by hearing some of them described as “dumb,” a characterization she knew to be both inaccurate and harmful — Carofano channeled her experience into an advocacy piece for the school newspaper, featured in its Spring 2026 edition.
In writing the piece, Carofano connected with Dr. Judith Moskowitz and fellow students to examine how the right tools and support allow students with learning disabilities to thrive. The article drew attention to the pivotal role educators and other adults play in shaping how students respond to academic challenges, and to the many ways schools can more effectively serve a range of learners.
Carofano’s own perspective is central to the piece: “Ultimately, learning differences are not a reflection of intelligence or potential; they are simply different ways of processing the world. With greater awareness, understanding, and support, schools can move closer to creating an environment where all students, regardless of how they learn, have the opportunity not just to succeed, but to feel confident in their ability to do so.”
Carofano credits Windward with instilling in her the importance of advocacy, and says she would not be where she is today without that foundation. Now a student at Boston University, she plans to carry that commitment forward through her writing and a potential future in law.
