Meet our Peer Mentors

C7 incomplete, DoB 1996, San Jose

Manual chair. Strong upper body, weaker left tricep/lat/chest, impaired hand function (stronger grip with right hand). Global spasticity used for hand function, transfers, and walking short distances with spotters.

In grad school for nutrition.

Can mentor on sports, back to school, supra-pubic catheter, UTIs, getting into dating.

Lives alone.

Interested in rowing, music, cooking

L 1/2, DoB 1947, Penngrove

Power chair with elevating seat.

Master’s in Rehab Admin, 22 years at Sonoma State running the disability office, WID, podcasts, co-working, housing advocacy, etc.

Can mentor on diability rights and culture,

Lives with wife.

Interested in disability rights and advocacy, disability and the arts to create social change.

C6/7 incomplete DoB 1955, Aptos

Manual chair.

AS degree, Mechanic, Truck Driver, Firefighter. Volunteer for VMC, CASA, Ride-A-Wave, Day of Discovery, Christopher Reeve Foundation.

Can mentor on adaptive equipment, sports, vehicles.

Lives alone independently.

Interested in my kids and grandkids first, 60's car restorations, volunteering, Handcycle racing and riding.

C4 incomplete, DoB 1997, Aptos

No assistive devices. Sometimes an AFO on left leg .Good return of function in all four limbs.

BS in Business administration. Worked in Accounting. Now is a freelance photographer.

Can mentor in back to school. being injured as a teen. navigating walking again. adaptive cycling.

Currently lives at home with parents but is physically independent.

Interested in photography and mountain biking.

C4 incomplete, DoB 1956, San Jose

Mobility Scooter. Brown Sequard Syndrome. Walks short distances with a walker.

Master’s in Nursing Leadership. After injury worked for 6 years for Santa Clara County 911 as Nurse Educator. Currently volunteers with Medical Volunteers for Disaster Relief. Presents on Emergency Preparedness for people with Disabilities.

Can mentor on Emergency Preparedness, Neural Implant, ileostomy.

Lives Independently.

Interested in photography, ocean, outdoors, vacationing- has been to all seven continents

C5/6 incomplete, DoB 1991, Clovis

Manual chair with smartdrive power assist. Can stand and use walker short distances around the house.

Medical school graduate. Working with vocational rehab to find full time job.

Can mentor on advocacy, travel, neurogenic bladder and botox, mental health, adaptive home improvements.

Lives with parents.

Interested in travel, books, plants, and advocacy! Ready to try new things :)

Mother of individual with C4/5 complete, Danville

Understands home renovations requirements for quadriplegia. Believes in advocacy and creating an environment that promotes independence eg driving. Our son has tried adaptive equipment and got a little taste of wheelchair rugby. I was his caregiver and encouraged him to go back to college. Helped him navigate caregivers, DOR, Social Security, MediCal, Medicare information, Swim with Mike college grants.

I would be happy to answer any and all questions, and I know there will be many.

T12 complete, DoB 1962, Santa Cruz

Mostly manual with Smartdrive. Shoulder surgeries and arthritis have led to some upper body weakness.

BA in Accounting, CPA (mostly retired). On the board of a camp for kids and adults with disabilities, leadership in Canine Companions

Can mentor in athletics and adaptive sports equipment, other adaptive equipment, self and super pub cath, pain mgmt, pregnancy during paraplegia, medical write-offs.

Paralympian and marathon participant post-injury.

Retired, lives with husband.

Interested in cooking, reading, swimming, hiking, kayaking

C6 complete, DoB 1997, Carlsbad

Power assist manual, weak tricep is lowest level of function.

Masters in Biomedical Engineering. Works as a Quality Engineer.

Can mentor on adaptive equipment, sports, caregivers, back to school/work, advocacy, intimacy, bladder surgery.

Lives with girlfriend.

Interested in sports, getting outside, going out with friends.

C6 complete, DoB 1971, Campbell

Manual chair with push assist. No tríceps but with functioning tenodesis.

Spanish speaker. M.A. degree, currently works at a local independent living center.

Can mentor on assistive technology and living independently.

Married, no kids.

Interested in assistive technology, travel, going out to the movies and dinner and sporting events.

L level, DoB 1986, Oakland

Motor scooter, weak leg strength.

Chico State graduate federal government worker.

Lives independently.

Can mentor on mobility.

T5 complete, DoB 1991, San Jose

Manual chair, no sensation or function from the chest down. full arm and hand function.

Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training, Master’s in Exercise Science. Works for an orthopedic surgeon.

Can mentor on adaptive sports. living indendently, driving, working full time.

Lives with a roommate in a 2 bedroom apartment.

Interested in wheelchair sports, fitness, travel.

C1 incomplete. DoB 1962, Fremont

Mobility scooter, or forearm crutches for short distances. Can generally move slowly with limited strength and significant tone (spasticity).

BS in Computer Science. Worked in Computer Networking and Software test before injury. Board level Volunteer (Treasurer) at ReCARES (recares.org). Weekly Volunteer at SCVMC SCI Peer Support.

Can mentor on most SCI topics ofter 20 years of attending and co-leading peer support groups.

Lives with long term partner.

Interested in woodturning and 3D Printing.

L5 complete, DoB 1968, Sacramento

Manual and power assist chair. Spina Bifida since birth.

Associate Degree in Business Admin, Bachelors in Social Work, extensive work experience.

Can mentor on SP tube, colostomy, self-advocacy, some ADA, some adaptive equipment, DoR, SSI/SSDI, mental health.

Lives alone with cats.

Interested in basketball, drawing, volunteering.

T11 complete, DoB 1973, Santa Rosa

Manual chair, full function above the belly button.

Some college, worked at disability resource center (non profit), Owns a construction company. Volunteer art teacher at a womans treatment center. Hosts SCI online support group.

Can mentor on basketball, advocacy, pregnancy and motherhood, business ownership, traveling by air and vehicle.

Divorced mom living alone. Daughter in college.

Interested in painting, art projects, gardening, reading, museums, community events.

T4 complete, DoB 1984, Livermore

Manual chair, smart drive and a striker attachment. Occasionally power chair,. Full function above level of injury, limited function below.

Doctorate in clinical psychology, private practice from home, volunteers as board member for Wheel with Me Foundation, and at kids’ school.

Can mentor on adaptive biking gear, being a Mom in a wheelchair, driving, home adaptions, cooking. Runs a support group for wheelie mamas, passionate about supporting parents with disabilities. Married, two kids, dog

Interested in cooking, birding, music, reading, biking, being in nature, playing sports with my kids.

T4 complete, DoB 1987, San Francisco

Manual chair, No motor/sensation below mid chest/sternum level. Full strength/feeling above sternum. Very independent, drives a car w/ hand controls.

Bachelor's degree in film, master's degree in wine studies, freelancer, peer mentor with Reeve Foundation and connected closely with the High Fives Foundation

Can mentor in adaptive equipment, most adaptive sports, pain management.

Single, currently dating, lives alone. Dog owner.

Interested in video editing, swimming, reading, film/tv, food/wine, scuba, tennis, skiing, fly fishing, concerts, astronomy.

C6 incomplete, DoB 1998, Santa Clara

Mostly manual chair, uses power chair to travel locally. Some hand/tricep function on left side and some tricep on right.

Bachelor in Engineering and currently works at Apple as a software engineer.

Can mentor on adaptive equipment, smart drive, path to returning to driving, sports (wheelchair rugby), back to work, supra-pubic tube, independence.

Lives alone with dog.

Interested in playing with my dog, cooking, reading, watching tv, video games, hanging with friends, tech side projects ie, app development, 3D printing, wheelchair rugby.

C3 incomplete, DoB 1960, Idaho

High functioning, can walk, but has issues, same with arms and hands, spasticity, bowel and bladder issues. Very self motivated to improve and to help others.

High school graduate, underground construction.

Can mentor on self rehabilitation. Made an amazing recovery by own work ethic and desire to get back to a normal life.

Lives with wife.

Interested in playing drums to work on rehabilitation, cooking, exercising, weights, gym

T8 incomplete, DoB 1971, Kerman

Manual chair, Very little leg movement. Can wiggle toes and flex right quad. Hands and arms are normal.

College graduate, CPA, worked at a few accounting firms.

Can mentor on working while dealing with SCI and pain management.

Lives with wife, daughter and granddaughter.

Interested in sports. Learning to play piano.

C5/6 complete, DoB 1973, Sacramento

Power chair. Has hospital bed and an alternating pressure relief mattress.

Has biceps but no triceps. Uses typing aids, and Dragon Speak at times to write with voice.

Associate degree in Human Services. In school working toward bachelor's degree in Human Services with a concentration in Disability studies. Runs and attends several peer support groups, including a monthly Women’s Group on Zoom.

Can mentor on going back to school, returning to college, Canine Companions.

Single. Lives with mom who is her full-time caregiver.

Interested in going to concerts, comedy shows, musicals and plays. Going to lunch/dinner with friends and family.

T12 complete, DoB 1970, Roseville

Manual chair, T12 almost full upper body function.

College educated, working in urology and rehab for 30 years.

Can mentor on sports, sex, infertility, urology and urology products, nutrition, driving.

Lives with wife and kid.

Interested in monoskiing, cooking, photography.

C5/6 Incomplete, DoB 1953, Eureka/Redding

Power chair, hand and arm function; no grip; no leg function.

High school graduate, some college classes. Worked for the State in road maintenance and as Safety Officer for maintenance and office employees

Can mentor on adaptive equipment, supra-pubic tube, colostomy, osteoporosis.

Retired, lives with husband, married 40 years.

Interested in gardening, quilting, weaving

T4 complete, DoB 1991, Sunnyvale

Manual chair. Good arm and hand movement, no feeling below my injury.

Spanish speaker. Graduated high school and used to work in construction and flooring.

Can mentor on pressure sores, working out, pain management, exercises, BTP, self catheterization, depression, transfers, dressing and VTA.

Single, lives with auntie. Very close family.

Interested in the gym, rock climbing, and just started wheelchair basketball.

T11 incomplete, DoB 1998, Stockton

Has used manual wheelchairs, walkers, leg braces, uses a cane. Full hand and arm function. Thighs are the most affected, especially in quadriceps. Has almost full function of lower legs and feet.

Going to college for business degree.

Spanish speaker. Can mentor on pain management, going back to school.

Lives with family.

Interested in reading, writing and storytelling. Not sporty.