During our StrongWheeled Together Conference in Las Vegas, United Spinal recognized six talented people who are changing the game in their respective industries. Our winners represent some of the best and brightest in the community of wheelchair users living in the United States and we know it is only the beginning of their success. Here are their stories.
Writing Award: Anja Herrman
When Anja Herrman says her life has been “a complete mess,” it’s the kind of thing you might expect a typical 17-year-old to say. Except Anja is not your typical 17-year-old and her “mess” is one that many would envy.
On Oct. 11, Anja was in Washington, D.C., for the first “Girls Leading Change” celebration at the White House. First Lady Jill Biden recognized her as one of 15 young women “leading change and shaping a brighter future.”
A week later found Anja 2,500 miles away in Las Vegas, at United Spinal Association’s first StrongWheeled Together Conference to receive the StrongWheeled Together Award for Writing. Then, after a fun few days on the Las Vegas Strip, it was back to the high school grind in Illinois where she is in her senior year.
“There has been a lot of, ‘Oh my god, what is happening’ moments recently,” she says. “Then you add looming deadlines for college applications on top of that.”
Staying at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino proved to be a nice respite, besides a good opportunity to practice her French. She particularly enjoyed rolling around the hotel and running into all of the SWTCon attendees using wheelchairs. “Just being in a room with so many other wheelchair users was so much fun. It’s not something I’m used to,” she says. “It was great to be able to share those moments with the other awardees — it made the honor even more special. I’m very grateful.”
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award: Ryan Gebauer
Ryan Gebauer got his first taste of being an entrepreneur when he was an elementary school kid selling odds and ends on the front lawn of his boyhood home. He progressed to mastering the school lunch trade and then pursued business as an undergraduate and graduate student. He started his first business, an online traffic school, at the age of 29.
Eventually, he settled into a successful career as a real estate broker and instructor, culminating in the 2015 launch of his own brokerage dedicated to helping people with disabilities and older people. “I’ve always had a business mindset,” he says.
In recognition of that mindset and his work advancing accessibility in the field of real estate, Ryan, 45, received the StrongWheeled Together Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at SWTCon. People from across the disability spectrum reach out to him for advice and he relishes helping others find their way into the field.
He has adapted to the recent downturn in the real estate market by focusing more of his time on teaching continuing-education classes for fellow agents. His work in continuing education has given him the view that bureaucracy and regional requirements often stand in the way of common sense, especially in improving accessibility. “I would love to work with United Spinal on developing a class to teach real estate agents about disability,” he says.
Though unable to attend SWTCon in person, Ryan felt honored to be recognized. “I’m excited to keep working to innovate and educate around accessibility,” he says.
Sports and Recreation Award: Arthur Renowitzky
Living in California’s Bay Area, Arthur Renowitzky didn’t have far to travel to receive the StrongWheeled Together Award for Sports and Recreation, but arriving at United Spinal’s largest annual meetup in Las Vegas still felt like being in a whole new world. “This was my first event with United Spinal in person, and I was blown away by the whole experience,” says Renowitzky.
“The awards night, the conference — it was great. And just being able to connect with everybody … having coffee with folks and engaging in stories, I’m real appreciative.”
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Arthur earned the award for his work on and off the basketball court. He plays guard for the Golden State Road Warriors, who won this year’s championship in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. He also serves as the executive director and co-founder of the Life Goes On Foundation, a nonprofit he started in 2007, using sports to support gun violence survivors and young people with spinal cord injuries.
For Arthur, SWTCon was a chance to connect with people in the disability community outside his usual adaptive-sports orbit. He sees the community-building as a valuable means to grow the impact of Life Goes On. He is working on a documentary about his basketball team and adaptive sports, and is expanding his nonprofit’s outreach.
While SWTCon was his first experience with United Spinal, he’s sure it won’t be his last. “I want to continue to be a part of it,” he says.
Visual Arts Award: Xi Nan
Being selected for the StrongWheeled Together Award for Visual Arts is the latest in a long line of achievements and honors for Xi Nan. Born and raised in Jilin, China, Xi now is a full-time ceramist, sculptor and advocate in New York, dedicating her career to helping people with disabilities.
She took second award in the 2011 Emerging Artists with Disabilities exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute and her work has been exhibited at shows around the U.S. and the world, including the 2018 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts in Pittsburgh and the 2022 Venice Art Biennial in Italy.
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She was honored to be selected as one of the SWTCon award winners. “I am very grateful for this recognition from the USA, and I think this is a great opportunity to be connected and share our ideas and thoughts,” says Xi. “This platform is great for artists with disabilities to be recognized and to shine our abilities and to break through our limitations.”
When not sculpting or making ceramics, she is also a paraclimber and a somatic healing facilitator. She offers one-on-one coaching sessions in spiritual healing, artistic healing, disability empowerment and energy/chakra realignments.
Performing Arts Award: King Khazm
King Khazm took time out of his busy touring schedule to accept the StrongWheeled Together Award for Performing Arts for his work as a hip-hop artist and community organizer. Based in Seattle, Khazm has toured around the world, including Dubai, Guatemala and everywhere in between, raising awareness about disability and empowering the community through music, art and community service.
In addition to touring, King Khazm has worked with countless artists as a producer, including Afu-Ra, Def-I, Eli Almic and Gabriel Teodros. He is also a board member of the Here and Now Project, a Seattle disability commissioner, and executive director of hip-hop organization 206 Zulu.
He enjoyed spending the weekend connecting with other wheelchair users at SWTCon in Las Vegas. “Receiving this award and having an opportunity to connect with other wheelchair users who have managed to excel in their endeavors and life paths is a momentous and incredibly inspiring occasion,” he says.
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He describes his journey as a disabled musician as challenging yet gratifying. “Being a wheelchair user poses additional logistical and financial constraints when it comes to touring. Things rarely go as planned, even when hotels, planes and venues confirm their accommodations,” he says.
Sure enough, on the way to Las Vegas, King Khazm lost a charger to a medical device. “Flexibility and creative problem-solving are instrumental in successful operations,” he says.
His final remarks summed up the spirit of SWTCon perfectly. “People with disabilities do exist. We are real. We have aspirations. We can thrive. And we are indeed StrongWheeled!”
Youth Leadership Award: Giana Bisnett
Giana Bisnett has made more of a difference in the community before the age of 18 than most people do in a lifetime. The high school sophomore found her voice as an advocate through the Disability EmpowHer Network, which offers women and girls the opportunity to lead and succeed.
She attended the organization’s yearly camping trip in the Adirondacks last year where they learned life skills, survival skills and team building.
The girls were challenged to create a yearlong project related to disability. Giana chose to work with her school district to purchase evacuation chairs. “For my entire school career, I have had to go into a safe room or stay at the top of a stairwell during fire drills or emergencies. Neither felt safe,” she explains.
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Bisnett created a plan and ultimately convinced district officials to purchase evacuation chairs for every school. After the plan was approved, she spoke in front of the school board about her project. “It felt amazing to experience the process from idea to fruition. The best part is that this chair can save lives. I hope to see it in every school throughout the country,” she says.
Bisnett was not able to attend SWTCon to accept her award, but hinted that this won’t be the last time we hear from her. “Winning this award feels incredible. It will propel me toward my future as I use my voice to be a change-maker,” she says.
Learn more about United Spinal’s Strong Wheeled Together campaign. Join us by signing up for a free membership. To support our mission, donate here.
