Every Dec. 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities promotes an understanding of disability issues. The day also mobilizes support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.
Learn more about International Day of Persons with Disabilities from eight wheelchair users who shared their perspectives on Instagram.
Kelsey Peterson
United Spinal member Kelsey Peterson is a dancer, writer, and filmmaker. Her first documentary, Move Me, is about her journey of self-acceptance and finding her love to dance again after her 2012 spinal cord injury.
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Andraéa LaVant
Andraéa LaVant is the president of LaVant Consulting, which leads trainings/workshops, events and programs that aim to foster authentic disability-inclusive cultures within your organization. She is the impact producer for the film Crip Camp and a United Spinal board member.
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Rollettes LA
The Rollettes wheelchair dance team empowers women with disabilities to live boundlessly. The team hosts the Rollettes Experience every year in Los Angeles, bringing hundreds of women wheelchair users together to connect and enjoy a variety of events.
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Adam Lucio
Adam Lucio uses social media to educate people about living with a spinal cord injury. An adaptive athlete, speaker, actor and member of United Spinal, he has appeared on NBC, MSN, CNN and more.
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Judy Heumann
The “Mother of Disability Rights” Judy Heumann is an internationally-recognized advocate. She is at the forefront of almost every advance for the disability community. Her story is featured in the 2020 award-winning documentary “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.” She was honored with the Lifetime Impact Award at United Spinal’s #StrongWheeled Together Member’s Gala.
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Namel “Tapwaterz” Norris
United Spinal member Namel “Tapwaterz” Norris is half of the musical duo 4 Wheel City alongside Ricardo “Rickfire” Velasquez. These two talented artists and motivational speakers use wheelchairs 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.
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Sophie Morgan
Sophie Morgan is a British television presenter and disability advocate. She was a lead presenter for UK Channel 4’s coverage of the Summer Paralympics in Tokyo and voted one of the most influential disabled people in the United Kingdom three years in a row.
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Emily Ladau
Emily Ladau is a disability rights advocate and published author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be An Ally.
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United Spinal is the leading national organization directly serving and advocating for people with SCI/D, all wheelchair users and their loved ones, providing free resources, one-on-one guidance, comprehensive programs and services, and peer support.
For more information about all of United Spinal’s chapters and programs, please contact our Community Supports team. Join our community by signing up for a free membership. To support our mission, donate here.
