| |
For the New York Metro event, Abilities Expo has appointed Ambassadors—members of the local community of people with disabilities—to spearhead community outreach initiatives. These individuals will meet face-to-face with rehab institutions, independent living centers, local manufacturers, service providers and local associations to generate excitement and increase attendance at each event.
Meet the impressive individuals who have chosen to represent Abilities Expo to the Community.
Ian James Brown
 Ian James Brown graduated from the United States Air Force Academy. Extremely active, he played football, rugby and volleyball as well competed in boxing, power lifting and martial arts.
Ian became a paralyzed veteran during his service in the United States Air Force.
Undaunted, Ian began a post-baccalaureate program to finish the pre-requisite courses in preparation for medical school.
Ian is heavily involved in neuro-spinal research and volunteers at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and the James J. Peters Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center. He focuses on the consequences and rehabilitation of spinal and traumatic brain injuries. Ian has worked for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs in order to help fund responsible medical research.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Ian also works to help fit customized wheelchairs to the disabled population as a representative for Lasher Sport, LLC. As a volunteer for Lasher Sport for more than a year and a half and an ambassador to the Abilities Expos, Ian meets local clients, and travels abroad to meet patients with varied diagnoses to help find and suggest durable medical equipment, disabled resources and medical research programs.
Ian is also affiliated with the Accessible Racing program where he not only competes, but he helps design and develop the arrive and drive experience which enables people of varying disabilities to learn autocross and race driving in a fully accessible race car.
Ian is a model, spokesperson and representative for LegaWear where he helps to provide custom tailored fashion for people with varying levels of ability.
Though a retired military officer, Ian hopes to rejoin the working force in Neuro-spinal research—specifically in neuro-technology and cure research—following medical school.
Ian is also a wheelchair athlete and competed for the first time post-injury in power lifting and archery at the 2008 Veteran’s Wheelchair Games in Omaha, Nebraska where he brought home gold medals in archery and weightlifting.
Santina Muha
 Santina Muha, a T-10 paraplegic from an auto accident in 1989, is a recent graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Communication and Sociology.
Since graduating, she has been involved in many projects and endeavors. She currently holds the Communications Associate position at the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), for which she writes for the association's publications and corresponds with various people throughout the disability community. As an east coast correspondent for Tiger Beat and BOP! magazines, she has interviewed various musicians and actors. She is a reporter for EndeavorFreedom.tv and Xable.com and touches on other journalism aspects independently and in collaboration with friends in the media and entertainment field. Santina has recently been seen wheelchair modeling in South Beach, Los Angeles, and throughout New Jersey, and was a contestant in the Miss New Jersey USA pageant. She was also the first guest on a pilot for an upcoming television program about traveling with a disability.
In 2007 she was the first contestant ever to use a wheelchair on the hit game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". Santina's goals include helping to bring visibility to disability in a positive light by being involved in media and pop culture. Santina also feels strongly about accessibility, public transportation and youth advocacy.
|
|
