My name is Daniel, and I’m proud to serve on the Board of Directors for 22q Texas. I’m based in Houston and was diagnosed with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (also known as VCFS) at age six. Growing up, I underwent two submucous cleft palate surgeries, attended countless medical appointments, and participated in extensive speech and occupational therapy. I also live with a learning disability—but none of these challenges have stopped me from pursuing a full and adventurous life.

I earned my driver’s license at 16, passed the GED on my first try, and successfully entered community college. After accumulating enough credits, I transferred to a university without ever taking the SAT and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree after six years of hard work. Since then, I’ve been employed full-time as an IT technician.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling,

Outside of work, I’m passionate about skiing, traveling, and skydiving. I’ve skied black diamond trails in Lake Tahoe, traveled solo to 17 countries across five continents, and completed over 200 skydives from 14,000 feet. I believe in living boldly and advocating for others with 22q by sharing my story and supporting our community.