One of the most positive things I did following my spinal cord injury was find and follow accounts of other wheelchair users. This really helped my mental health and provided me with sense of solidarity. It showed me that I wasn’t in this alone. It is also helpful to learn hacks and tricks other people have for everyday living. As well as to see what kind of adventures people are on. What ventures they are building up, and what walls they are breaking down.
I think it is extremely important for people to see wheelchair users living their lives! Whether you have direct experience with a spinal cord injury or not, it is important to see authentic representation. Wheelchair users are underrepresented and stereotypically portrayed in the mainstream media. Although social media tends to have insidious and negative connotations surrounding it, the wheelie community is extremely supportive. It has allowed for wheelchair users to present their own stories to the world and reclaim our narratives. Spinal cord injury or not it is beneficial to everyone follow these accounts. Showing support with a follow promotes diversity and inclusion through education. It also helps to break down misconceptions and ingrained stereotypes about wheelchair users.
Here is a list of people who inspire me (in no particular order):
Give them a follow!
Judy Heumann
https://www.instagram.com/theheumannperspective/
https://twitter.com/judithheumann?lang=en
Lifelong disability rights wonder woman. After contracting polio as a child which left her paralyzed she has spent her life as an advocate for people with disabilities. She has founded numerous organizations over the years to help integrate and allow people with disabilities to participate in their communities and live independent lives. She served under both the Clinton and Obama administrations, as well as the World Bank as a disability rights advisor. She also played a major roll in the creation and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and has travelled to many countries in every continent on her motorized wheelchair.
Reyu Paralysis Recovery Centre
https://www.reyu.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/reyuprc/
https://www.instagram.com/reyuprc/?hl=en
Primarily promoting neuro-recovery through intensive activity based training to re-establish neural connections for those with spinal cord injuries. In addition to creating a strong sense of awareness and comradery through community outreach events.
Bean Gill
https://www.instagram.com/branzoid/?hl=en
Co-founder of Reyu, and current reigning Ms. Wheelchair Canada. Bean is tireless and passionate about providing a voice to those in need. Fearless, unstoppable, unapologetic and stylish while she conquers the world.
Wheels of Change
https://wheelsofchange.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/WheelsofchangeCA/
An Alberta based advocacy group that has been working to change and improve the quality of life for those living with spinal cord injuries across Canada. They aim to educate, advocate and collaborate with the community to bring relevant issues to light. As well as, to promote positive change through improvement of supports and services.
Brittany Neunzig -Empowered Para
https://empoweredpara.com/
Brittany is one of the members of Wheels of Change, and she also has her own youtube channel Empowered Para where she shares her tips and tricks from her extensive knowledge of living with an SCI for over 20 years. She is a teacher, a mother, a nutrition wizard, an innovator and an advocate.
Amberley Snyder
https://www.instagram.com/amberleysnyder/?hl=en
Barrel racer and speaker. Her journey is the subject of the film “Walk. Ride. Rodeo.” It is a story of remarkable perseverance, and fighting to live the life on your own terms.
Brad Bartko
https://wheelingforhope.com
https://www.instagram.com/broadcastinbrad/
Founder of Wheeling for Hope, Brad was born 3 months premature with cerebral palsy and was given 24hours to live. He doesn’t let anything stop him and has done numerous public speaking events across North America and is an Easter Seals Ambassador. He also has the most extensive sports knowledge of anyone I have ever met.
Rita Ebel- “Lego Grandma”
https://www.instagram.com/die_lego_oma/?hl=en
Rita is a local legend in her home town of Hanau, Germany. She builds colourful custom lego ramps by hand to make her town more accessible. She also donates custom ramps to people in need. The ramps have become a tourist attraction in and of themselves, and have been a great way to start a conversation about accessibility and independence in the community.
Erik Kondo-Wheelchair Longboarding
https://www.instagram.com/wheelchairboarding/
It is hard to sum up Erik: he is an inventor, innovator, and thrill seeker. Often posting videos of himself cruising along on his wheelchair adapted electric longboard. He is also a fervent supporter of people with spinal cord injuries and has built a database to showcase and support those with spinal cord injuries the “SCI Network Project“.
Tanelle Bolt- Rad Recreation/Pro Tips for Paras
https://www.instagram.com/tanellebolt/
https://www.radsociety.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/protipsforparas/
Tanelle has been dedicated to helping provide recreation opportunities for those living with spinal cord injuries and mobility issues. Adaptive equipment can be prohibitively expensive, RAD Recreation Society is changing the game. Allowing people to rent equipment as they need or to try equipment out before buying. Tanelle is a busy bee and is an accomplished wheelchair bodybuilder and para-golfer. She also has her youtube channel Pro Tips for Paras for helpful tips and tricks she has learned over the years.
Rocky Mountain Adaptive
https://www.facebook.com/rockymountainadaptive
https://www.instagram.com/rockymountainadaptive/?hl=en
https://rockymountainadaptive.com/
An Alberta based adaptive recreation equipment company based out of Canmore. Rocky Mountain Adaptive provides equipment and support for numerous winter and summer sports for a wide range of abilities. They began with adaptive ski lessons, and have now expanded to over 20 different sports!
Rick Hansen – Man in Motion
https://www.rickhansen.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rickhansenfdn/?hl=en
The man, the myth, the legend. Rick Hansen is a household name for many. He is a decorated Paralympian, and is best known for his “Man in Motion” campaign which saw him visit 34 countries over 26 months. This trip made him the world-record holder for longest journey in a wheelchair. This has resulted in increased disability awareness and improved accessibility worldwide. He is the founder of his namesake foundation, and continues to inspire and motivate.
Alex Dacy- Wheelchair Rapunzel
https://www.wheelchairrapunzel.com/
https://www.instagram.com/wheelchair_rapunzel/?hl=en
Bad-ass boss babe who is tireless for disability advocacy and body representation. She is unapologetic, unfiltered and uses her humour and wit to educate others.
Ali Stroker
https://www.instagram.com/alistroker/?hl=en
An American actress and singer, Ali was the first wheelchair user to appear on Broadway. She has appeared as a guest on the tv show “Glee” and was the lead in the acclaimed “Christmas Ever After.” She is also the co-chair of Woman Who Care which supports United Cerebral Palsy in New York City. As well as the founder of Be More Heroic, an anti-bullying initiative across the United States.
Karah Behrend– Kind of a Quad
https://www.instagram.com/kindofaquad/
Rally car driver and all around adventurer. She has great informational videos on transferring and wheelchair skills.
Gem Hubbard- Wheels No Heels
https://wheelsnoheels.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/wheelsnoheels_/
Disability activist and content creator, Gem works tirelessly to help people understand the challenges of living in a wheelchair, and believes in equity and equality for all through education and awareness.
Ben Huntzinger- Spartan Chariots
https://www.facebook.com/SpartanWheelChariots
https://www.instagram.com/spartanwheelchariots/
After becoming a paraplegic in a car accident Ben has made it his mission to create affordable, light-weight and stylish manual wheelchairs that can conquer any terrain. He is changing lives and allowing people to get back to the activities that they enjoy, whether it is fishing, hunting, or just getting off the beaten path.
Alyssa Higgins – Wheel Life in the Wheel World
https://www.thisiswheellife.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wheellifeinthewheelworld
https://www.instagram.com/wheel.life.in.the.wheel.world/
Alyssa has C1-C2 spinal injury that was acquired during birth from a doctor using forceps during delivery and damaging her spinal cord. She lives a full life as a wife, dog-lover, style influencer, disability advocate, and new mother. She is a source of inspiration and is out there proving haters wrong.
Marcela Marañon – Journey of a Brave Women
https://www.facebook.com/MarceTurnage
https://www.instagram.com/thejourneyofabravewoman/
Marcela is a wheelchair user and an amputee after a car accident, but she hasn’t let this slow her down or dull her smile. She travels the world solo, has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and always looks stylish doing it.
Chelsie Hill – Rollettes Dance Group
https://www.chelsiehill.com/
https://www.facebook.com/chelsiehillpage
https://www.instagram.com/chelsiehill/
https://www.instagram.com/rollettes_la/
Chelsie was paralyzed in a car accident when she was in high-school which changed the course of her life and left her unable to walk. She refuses to let disability dictate her life and her love of dance led to the foundation of the “Rollettes” wheelchair dance group; as well as, the Boundless Babes Society a mentorship program for other women in wheelchairs.
Tiphany Adams
https://tiphanyadams.com/
https://www.facebook.com/officialTiphanyAdams
https://www.instagram.com/tiphanyadams/
Tiphany also sustained as spinal cord injury as a result of being hit head on in her car at 17 by a drunk driver. She is multi-talented and works as a holistic healing coach, a fitness model and nutritionist. She is also a television personality, an influencer, fitness trainer, empath coach, actress, and speaker.
Aaron “Wheels” Fotheringham
https://www.aaronfotheringham.com/
https://www.instagram.com/aaronwheelz/
https://www.facebook.com/AaronWheelz
Aaron’s life motto is “when life gives you a wheelchair, find a skatepark.” Aaron was born with Spina Bifida and uses a wheelchair to do insane wheelchair BMX (WCMX) stunts. He holds a bunch of world records: landing front flips in his chair, the first-ever wheelchair backflip and launching off a 50ft mega ramp. He is an innovator and is inspiring a younger generation to show that a wheelchair is a tool, not a restriction.
Sarah Foley- Vertical Blonde
https://www.verticalblonde.com
https://www.facebook.com/VerticalBlonde
https://www.instagram.com/verticalblonde/
Sarah is a writer, influencer, speaker and fitness coach. She is also founder of the Vertical Beauty Project and Disability Icon Fitness. As well as, being Ms. Wheelchair Hawaii 2018. She inspires others to transform obstacles into opportunities.
Nick Vujicic
https://nickvujicic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nickvujicic/
https://www.facebook.com/NickVujicic
Nick was born without arms or legs, but has persevered through tremendous challenges to become a best selling author and public speaker. He has also founded the non-profit ministry Life Without Limbs, and travels the world promoting anti-bullying initiatives.
Sylvia Longmire- Spin the Globe
https://spintheglobe.net/
https://www.facebook.com/spintheglobeonwheels
https://www.instagram.com/sylvia_longmire/
Sylvia was diagnosed with MS in 2005, but has refused to let it define her life. She is a retired Air Force veteran and travels the world in her power wheelchair. She works as an accessibility ambassador and accessible travel agent. She also does voice acting with the new media company “Wheels Up Media.”
John Morris- Wheelchair Travel
https://wheelchairtravel.org/about/
https://www.facebook.com/wheelchairtravel
https://www.instagram.com/wheelchairtravel/
John Morris has been travelling the world with one hand and a power wheelchair after a car accident in 2012 left him as a triple amputee. Refusing to surrender to his disability John has made it his mission to provide resources for wheelchair travelers and inspire others to go out and see the world.
Steven Quigley- Doing the Dirty Dishes
https://doingthedirtydishes.com/
https://www.instagram.com/doingthedirtydishespodcast/
Steven was at the top of his game so to speak, running a successful financial business when life as he knew it came to a grinding halt. After a night out he was beaten with a pipe and was found under a moving train the next morning, resulting in a spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. He has transformed his pain and has used his “re-birth” to inspire others as an author, speaker and life-coach.
Kenneth Keitt- Paraper4mance
https://paraper4mance.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Paraper4mance
https://www.instagram.com/paraper4mance/
Kenneth sustained a spinal cord injury after being ejected from a vehicle in a car accident. He has dedicated his energy to creating the Paraper4mance online fitness app for people with limited mobility, whether due to a spinal cord injury, stroke, spina bifida, aging or weakness. He is a firm believer that while the body may have mobility limitations, the mind is limitless and full of potential.
Cam Tait
https://www.camtait.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cam.tait
Cam Tait is local legend and journalist for the Edmonton Sun, as well as an author, and “sit-down” comic. He was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility, but has never let his disability define him. He has long been a voice for those with disabilities living in Alberta. His new project “The Awkward Homecoming” is a fictional drama podcast about a police chief who becomes physically disabled and the challenges endured.
Cory Lee- Curb Free With Cory Lee
https://curbfreewithcorylee.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CurbFree
https://www.instagram.com/curbfreecorylee/
Cory was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, but this never diminished his love of travel and desire to see the world. He has travelled to all 7 continents in his power wheelchair and is a huge advocate for accessibility and representation in the travel industry. He has won many awards for his travel blog and has written a children’s book as well.
Ryan Straschnitzki – Humboldt Bronco
https://www.instagram.com/rstraz_/
Ryan was injured in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He went to Thailand for stem cell treatments and an epidural stimulator. He can now take around 50 steps with the help of a physiotherapy team. He is also involved in the national sled hockey team and hopes to be able to represent Canada in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Karen Roy- Life Possible
https://www.instagram.com/lifepossiblekr/
https://www.facebook.com/LifePossibleKR
Karen has been a wheelchair user for over 30 years after being shot in an armed robbery. She is dedicated to helping others through education about nutrition, wellness and disability advocacy. She is passionate about providing access to technology and assistive devices to promote full, healthy lives post-injury.
Mindfully Inclusive
https://mindfullyinclusive.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/mindfullyinclusive
https://www.instagram.com/mindfullyinclusive/
Meranda is the super-mom behind Mindfully Inclusive, an initiative to promote inclusivity in the community for those who are differently abled. Her inspiration is her son Vincent who was born with a rare genetic disorder. Coupled with her background in yoga and business, Mindfully inclusive strives to create inclusivity through conversations, education, and mindful activities.
Leo Sammarelli- Westcoast Wheelchair Adaptive Boxing (WWAB)
https://www.wwaboxing.com/
https://www.instagram.com/wwadaptiveboxing/
Leo was an avid and celebrated boxer before a stray bullet left him paralyzed from the waist down. Refusing to give up on his passion he adapted to boxing in a wheelchair and created Westcoast Wheelchair Adaptive Boxing to share his love of the sport with others.
Ben– Adapt to Perform
https://www.facebook.com/AdaptToPerform
https://www.instagram.com/adapttoperform/
Ben is a quadriplegic personal trainer that shares workout and lifestyle tips on his youtube channel Adapt to Perform. Rather than buying into negativity following his spinal cord injury, he has made a conscious effort to focus on the positive and put in the work.
Trevor Kensignton
https://www.instagram.com/trevor_kennison/
https://www.facebook.com/colombianwheels/
Trevor is a professional big mountain mono-skiier. He continues to push the limits of sit skiing after a backcountry snowboarding accident left him with a spinal cord injury. He is the subject of a level 1 productions documentary about his story.
Louise Miller
https://www.alberta.ca/aoe-louise-miller.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaSCITCS
Louise has been a tireless activist for those living with spinal cord injuries in Alberta. After contracting a rare virus that required surgery left her a paraplegic, it never slowed her down. She co-founded the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society (SCITCS) and has been fundamental to advocating for Functional Electrode Stimulation (FES) as a therapy to improve the lives of those with spinal cord injuries and making it available in the community. She has been honoured for her volunteer for numerous organizations in Edmonton over the years and is the author of the book ” Daring to Live: Personal Journeys of Courage and Triumph” which details motivational stories about those living with disabilities.
Christian Savonitii
https://www.instagram.com/christiansavonitti/
https://www.facebook.com/people/christian-savonitti/100063660302097
Christian is a T5 paraplegic and a Freestyle Motocross rider who uses a bike outfitted with a custom roll cage. He has continued to pursue his passions after his injury and recently did a TED talk recounting his experience.
Kyle Richardson
https://www.kylearichardson.com/index
https://www.instagram.com/kylericha/
Kyle is a adaptive athlete, photographer and videographer. He is a celebrated big wave adaptive surfer. Kyle has also recently embarked on a new adventure living out of a modified van and travelling the country.
Richard Corbett- Wheels 2 Walking
https://www.wheels2walking.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Wheels2Walking
https://www.instagram.com/wheels2walking/
Richard was paralyzed when he was out for a run and fell 50ft onto concrete when a metal grate gave way under him. Through countless hours of therapy and hard work he can now walk short distances, but uses a wheelchair the majority of the time. He has an excellent youtube channel to educate and inspire others in similar situations.
Maayan Ziv -AccessNow
https://accessnow.com/about/
https://www.facebook.com/AccessNowApp
https://www.instagram.com/accessnowapp/
Maayan is the founder of the AccessNow App. Maayan lives with Muscular Dystropy and uses a power wheelchair for mobility. AccessNow is a crowd-sourced database project that is meant to provide a growing list of accessible restaurants, hotels, and stores worldwide.
Rose Finlay
https://www.rosefinlay.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/wheelchair_1derwoman/
https://www.facebook.com/inclusivesolutionsbyrose
Rose is an accessibility advocate, model and mother. After sustaining a cervical level spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia she has made it her mission to break down barriers and create a more inclusive world. She is also an author and is featured in the books “Sisterhood“, “The Great Canadian Woman” and “Her Unraveling.”
Ulla Kulju
https://ulla.kuvat.fi/
https://www.facebook.com/kuljuracing
https://www.instagram.com/kuljuracing/
Ulla is the world’s 1st paraplegic female motorcycle racer. She is based in Finland and won the IBHR World championship in 2017. She is a motorsport engineer, accessibility consultant and all around bad-ass.
Volt Power Chair Hockey
https://varietyalberta.ca/volt/
https://www.instagram.com/varietyab_/?hl=en
Volt hockey is a new initiative in Alberta that allows for participants with limited upper body mobility enjoy hockey and the benefits of playing on a team. Volt hockey a 3v3 game played using specially adapted power chairs controlled by joysticks and outfitted with paddles on the front. It allows for all kids, regardless of mobility, to socialize and enjoy the therapeutic benefit of playing a team sport.
Daniel Pelletier – Adaptive Skateboarder
https://www.instagram.com/dan__the__mannn/?hl=en
Daniel is a professional adaptive skateboarder with spina bifida. After a botched corrective surgery left him with a severed spinal cord, he has had over 20 surgeries, and has to re-learn how to walk 3 times. Despite the hardships he continues to skate and inspire others in the world of adaptive skateboarding. Check out some of his clips on youtube.
Giulia Lamarca
https://www.instagram.com/_giulia_lamarca/?hl=en
After a scooter accident at 19 left her a paraplegic, Giulia didn’t let it stop her from exploring the world. She travels in her manual wheelchair with her husband (who she jokingly refers to as her Sherpa). She has successfully conquered The Great Wall, Machu Picchu, Sigiriya and has many more adventures to come.
Melanie Labelle – Head over Wheels
https://www.instagram.com/head_over_wheels/?hl=en
An unfortunate swing dancing accident resulted in a broken neck and quadriplegia. Melanie has since discovered wheelchair rugby and is the only female on the Canadian national rugby team. She hopes to inspire young disabled athletes to never give up and promote the healing power of sport.
Steph Aiello – U Walk I Glide
https://www.facebook.com/uwalkiglide
https://www.instagram.com/uwalk_iglide/
Steph is a makeup artist and style influencer. She details living as a quadriplegic, and pushing boundaries that society often assigns.
Julia Rennie
https://www.instagram.com/juliadayo/
Julia is an American quadriplegic living in Japan. She details the daily reality of living with a spinal cord injury. She also gives an inside look at the gains she continues to make over 10 years since her accident.
Tanner Whidden – The Wheelchair Potter
https://www.facebook.com/thewheelchairpotter
https://www.instagram.com/the_wheel_chair_potter/
Tanner is an artist who creates unique hand made pottery and sculptures. The money he raises goes to help his friend in Africa pay for rehabilitation and physiotherapy so he is able to learn wheelchair skills to live an independent life. Tanner is also fundraising to save up for an epidural spinal stimulator for himself to recover function lost after a spinal cord injury.
The Positive Wheelchair Guy
https://www.facebook.com/positivewheelchairguy
The Positive Wheelchair Guy is hilarious and posts amazing quality memes about using a wheelchair and living with a spinal cord injury. Check out his page for a laugh, you will not be disappointed.
Jesi Stracham – Wheel With Me
https://www.wheelwithmefoundation.org/
https://www.facebook.com/wheelwithme
https://www.instagram.com/jesistracham/
Jesi’s “Wheel With Me” Foundation is dedicated to integrating people with spinal cord injuries into an independent community after they are released from their stay at a rehabilitation facility. This provides a transitional home to allow time to learn how to live with their injury rather than being left high and dry after their rehab stay.
Christian Bagg – Bowhead Corp
https://www.bowheadcorp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bowheadcorp/
https://www.facebook.com/bowheadcorporation
After an accident left Christian paralyzed from the waist down he used his expertise as a mechanical designer to create an e-bike that could handle the terrain of the Canadian Rockies. Thus the Bowhead Corp bike was created. It allows people with mobility issues to get out and explore nature and not feel limited.
Woody Belford – Self professed professional wheelchair user
https://www.instagram.com/woody_belfort/
https://www.facebook.com/woodybelfortofficiel
From wheelchair handstands, to wheelchair pole dancing, to wheelchair rock climbing, and much more! Woody pushes the limits showing what is possible in a wheelchair. He shows the power and strength in mindset and determination.
High Fives Foundation: Non-profit supporting athletes and veterans with SCIs and TBIs
https://highfivesfoundation.org
https://www.instagram.com/hi5sfoundation/
https://www.facebook.com/HighFivesFoundation
The High Five Foundation helps support adaptive athletes and gets people back to the activities they love. They provide grants to help fund adaptive equipment. In addition, they organize adaptive sports camps centered around surfing, skiing, mountain biking, yoga and much more! Their Instagram page is an awesome showcase of all the amazing things the hi5s athletes have accomplished and the boundaries that are being pushed in the adaptive sports community.
I hope you are inspired and have found some new “roll” models!
