My Story
Why I Built Genius World
I was born with cerebral palsy, and for a long time my life was measured in should and shouldn’t. People decided what I might never do before they learned who I was. The hardest part wasn’t the diagnosis—it was the silence that follows stigma. It makes you small. It makes you hide.
What changed me was telling the truth out loud. When I owned my story, the shame lost its grip. A simple tee with a simple message started conversations in grocery lines and classrooms. Strangers became allies. I realized clothes can be more than fabric—they can be a voice.
Genius World exists to make space for that voice. Our starburst mark points to the thing I believe most: the universe is vast—and so are we. We’re building a place where disability pride and mental-health honesty are normal, where community replaces isolation, and where design is wearable enough to go everywhere life goes.
The products come second; people come first. Wear the message if it helps you feel seen. Share your story if it helps someone feel less alone. That’s the whole point.
What Makes Us Different
Lived-Experience Led
Derek’s journey sets the standard. We listen to disabled and mental-health voices first.
Wearability First
Clean, subtle design over loud slogans—pieces made to be worn anywhere, every day.
Co-Create With Community
Design votes, collabs with advocates, and fair profit-sharing on partnered drops.
Print-On-Demand With Purpose
Small-batch to reduce waste, quality blanks, and size-inclusive ranges.
Transparent Impact
Clear giveback model with quarterly updates—where funds go and what changed.
Radical Respect in Marketing
No trauma-bait, no pity framing. We use strengths-based, person-first language.
Our Philisophy
At Genius World, design is a voice—not noise. We make simple, wearable pieces that start real conversations, because people come before product. Born from lived experience, our work exists to turn stigma into strength and help anyone feel seen, heard, and proud. The universe is vast—and so are we; our starburst mark is a reminder that every story deserves room to shine.
We build with care and inclusion at the center: accessible color contrast and language, alt text and captions, and print-on-demand to reduce waste. Stories are shared with consent and respect, and we’re transparent about the impact your support makes. The merch is a catalyst; the mission is belonging. Wear what you believe, and help someone feel less alone.
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