There is still time to register for our 2022 Membership Awards Gala! It starts at 6:30 p.m. EST on November 10th and is the crowning moment of our year-long #StrongWheeled Together campaign. Don’t miss these special guests:
American Idol Contestant Marna Michele
American Idol fans know Marna Michele as the wheelchair user in season 18. During Marna’s audition, superstars Katy Perry and Luke Bryant pushed her to belt out Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons” — which won her the golden ticket. She’s since then released an album and two Buzzfeed videos that have reached nearly one million people. She is active on many social media platforms, but her TikTok account is especially entertaining. Here is Marna’s American Idol showdown with fellow contestant Julia Gargano:
Our Own 4 Wheel City
4 Wheel City is a musical duo composed of United Spinal Association members Namel “ Tapwaterz” Norris and Ricardo “Rickfire” Velasquez. These two talented artists and motivational speakers are wheelchair users due to gun violence. They use hip-hop music and culture to create more opportunities for people with disabilities and to show the world that we have talents and dreams and deserve to be treated equally.
Here is 4 Wheel City’s “Mainstream,” a catchy anthem for disability employment:
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Internationally Recorded Gospel Singer Kebra Moore
Kebra Moore is a trained opera singer and an internationally recorded gospel singer who uses her song lyrics to build people up. She was Ms. Wheelchair 2013 and is an Amazon best-selling author of the book, “Love, Lies & Music, Short Tropical Storm Stories.” Her pen name is Midnight Storm. Moore is also an entrepreneur who developed the socially conscious Tropic Storm Collection of vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics. She is active on Spotify, Youtube and most other social media platforms.
Here is her video “Beautiful”:
The “Mother of Disability Rights” Judy Heumann
Known as the “Mother of Disability Rights,” Judy Heumann is an internationally-recognized advocate, she has been at the forefront of almost every advance for the disability community. Her story was featured in the 2020 award-winning documentary “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.” She published her memoir “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist” in 2020 and currently produces The Heumann Perspective podcast that can be found on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.
Here’s a taste of her podcast:
The First Quadriplegic to Serve in Congress, U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin
U.S. Representative Jim Langevin is the first quadriplegic to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Homeland Security. He is primarily known for his work on cyber security. In addition to his focus on national security, Langevin strongly advocates for all people with disabilities. He is retiring from Congress this year.
Here is Langevin leading Congress’ celebration of the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act:
What makes us #Strong Wheeled Together is the connections and personal stories that we share along our journey. Together, we erase the stigma of disability and fight so that everyone can live the lives they choose. We lead by example and empower others to do the same. Join us by signing up for a free membership. To support our mission, donate here.