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Ten years ago, Maya and Lara Hammoud were simply two young girls trying to help their best friend with autism feel more comfortable, included, and understood. Armed with little more than cardboard, creativity, and compassion, they built their first sensory room. A decade later, those same sisters found themselves in the halls of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, delivering multiple statements during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP19)

What began as a single sensory room built for our best friend with autism has grown into something far bigger than we ever imagined. Today, The Perception Foundation is the world's largest youth-led nonprofit dedicated to neurodiversity inclusion and mental health advocacy, reaching more than 500,000 people across 34+ countries. But our mission has never been about numbers. It has always been about creating a world where every person—regardless of neurological differences or

Lara Hammoud and Maya Hammoud are incredibly honored to share a milestone that has meant so much to them throughout their journey in science, advocacy, and innovation. This year, the twin sisters became the youngest speakers in the history of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), often referred to as the “Olympics” or “Nobel Prize” of high school science. Each year, ISEF brings together approximately 1,700 of the world’s top young scientists, engine

Lara Hammoud and Maya Hammoud are incredibly honored to have been named Young Women of the Year of the Americas by Women Changing the World, an initiative created by the Duchess of York. What began as a small act of care, building a sensory-friendly room for a friend with autism, has grown into The Perception Foundation, a global movement now reaching more than 500,000 people across 34+ countries. This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the mission that

Our founders, Maya and Lara Hammoud (@hammoudtwins), are incredibly honored to be invited back to the Fox Morning Show to share the growth of The Perception Foundation, now spanning 34 countries with global recognition. What started as a single sensory room has grown into an international movement, and we are so grateful for how far this journey has come. We're especially excited to be back with the amazing Erica to share our latest updates and impact.

Being named one of the 100 Women to Know in America is an incredible honour we truly never expected. The Perception Foundation began as a small initiative after meeting our childhood friend with autism, and has since grown into a global movement dedicated to raising awareness around neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health. We are incredibly proud of our founders, and especially Lara Hammoud-for being recognized on this list. We can't wait to see all of these inspiring

At just 18, founder Maya Hammoud ( @hammoudtwins ) brought the Gen Z perspective to the Wall Street Green Summit, showing that sustainability is no longer only environmental, it is social We are done with symbolic sustainability No more performative pledges No more surface level representation Real sustainability means supporting people, not just branding it It means transparency, accountability, and systems that truly include everyone Gen Z is not asking for change, we are d

At just 18, Perception Foundation founders Maya and Lara Hammoud (@hammoudtwins ) are already stepping onto the global stage-addressing the General Assembly during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women on a critical and often overlooked issue: the persistent lack of women in leadership. In their remarks, they challenged not only the structural barriers within our systems, but also the social norms and cultural expectations that shape who is encouraged to lead.

I’m incredibly honored to share that our founders Maya and Lara Hammoud were invited to the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations during CSW70 to speak about an issue that matters deeply to us: the discrimination that women with disabilities continue to face within legal systems and institutions around the world. During the discussion, we shared perspectives from our work at the Perception Foundation , highlighting the structural barriers that preve

It’s not everyday you receive a letter from the White House and the President himself. Our founders twin sisters Maya and Lara Hammoud and I were incredibly moved to receive this personal note from the President acknowledging our advocacy and dedication to serving others. To hear that our efforts with the The Perception Foundation is making a meaningful difference and helping to build a stronger nation is a level of recognition we never expected, but deeply appreciate.

We are incredibly proud of our founders, Maya and Lara Hammoud , for their address earlier this week at the United Nations during a High-Level Stocktaking Meeting as the UN plans its future direction for youth, peace, and security. Invited to share their perspectives alongside global leaders, Maya and Lara spoke about youth involvement in mental health and disability support and why inclusion must be treated as a core pillar of peacebuilding rather than an afterthought. Thei

We’re back from a much-needed Thanksgiving break feeling grateful, energized, and more inspired than ever. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, volunteered with us, and believed in our mission—you’re the heartbeat of this movement. And today, we’re kicking off December with MAJOR news. We’re Expanding—Fast: The Perception Foundation is thrilled to announce brand-new chapters across the U.S. AND our newest international chapter in Mexico! With even more chapters launc

"17-year-old" and "Young Woman of the Year" are two phrases we never expected to put together! Lara Hammoud and I are incredibly honored to be named the Young Women of the Year by the Women Changing the World of the Americas, an initiative created by the Duchess of York. This April, we are humbled to announce we will be attending the Women Changing the World Summit in Paris to meet and learn from other incredible leaders globally. For those who missed the ceremony, we wante

Big news from the Perception Foundation! Our incredible founders, Maya and Lara Hammoud , have been named Finalists for the Young Women...

Becoming a UN Delegate at 17 : A Transformative Experience ================================================================ This year,...

We’re thrilled to announce that Perception proudly partnered with TEDxDokki Youth in Cairo this past week! Taking the stage at one of...

As the leaves change, the Perception Foundation is growing stronger than ever — now with 95+ chapters in over 20 countries! From bustling...

We're thrilled to announce that our incredible co-founders, Maya and Lara Hammoud, were recently honored to be featured on the CBS...

We're incredibly proud to announce that the Perception Foundation is now helping to shape state policy! Our co-founders, Maya and Lara...

This week, Perception Foundation co-founders Maya and Lara Hammoud were featured on the Fox 2 Morning Show at 8 a.m., where they shared...