Who Is Jeison Aristizábal? CNN 2016 Hero Of The Year An Advocate For People With Disabilities

Jeison Aristizábal has dedicated the past decade-and-a-half to helping Colombians with disabilities. For his work, Aristizábal was named the 2016 CNN Hero of Year on Sunday.

The 33-year-old, who suffers from cerebral palsy, launched a foundation out of his parents' garage and has since helped young people in Colombia with disabilities gain access to educational and medical resources. Aristizábal received a $100,000 prize from CNN to continue that work.

"I can't believe it," Aristizábal said through a translator at an event announcing the award, via a press release. "Hello to Colombia, hello to all the families who have a child with a disability. I want to tell you that yes you can. You can dream and you can achieve your dreams."

CNN has named a hero of the year for the past 10 years, and it honors everyday people who are doing extraordinary work. Aristizábal's nonprofit group called ASODISVALLE, an acronym that translates to Association of Disabled People of the Valley, provides free services to some 1,000 young people and their families. What started in his parents' garage grew into an entire center, a school and meal services.

"This place has become the second home for thousands of children and their families," Aristizábal told CNN. "The most special thing about the foundation is the love and care that we give to the children. We fight for their happiness."

The advocate said he is now in law school in the hopes of changing laws and "the way in which the government treats people with disabilities." It's a concrete way to effect the changes he wants to see with how people view those with disabilities.

"Around the world, when families have a kid with a disability, they think that child won't be capable of much," he said in an interview with CNN. "We have to change that idea completely. We have to tell these families that their child may have a disability, but that doesn't mean that person doesn't have talents that will enable them to succeed in life."