About MobileWOMEN.org
We at mobileWOMEN.org believe that women with disabilities steer their own lives. Empowered by knowledge, we are having children, pursuing careers, competing in professional sports arenas, becoming community leaders, and living life to the fullest! Now at mobileWOMEN.org there is a place for us to unite and ask questions, as well as share ideas, insights, and experiences. Most of all, this site is a place where we can learn from each other.mobileWOMEN.org is the creation of women in wheelchairs who were having difficulty finding answers to their questions about health, fashion, and other topics. Our mission is to bring together current and accurate information on issues of interest to our community.
mobileWOMEN.org includes a designated link to interactive forums specifically for women with mobility disabilities. We are very excited to introduce two new innovative features coming soon to our site! The first feature allows women to upload their own personal video clips as a way to educate and inspire others through their stories. The second is dedicated to fashion, where women can swap adapted clothing ideas on the latest looks in fashion, upload photos and share opinions.
We are ecstatic about providing a site where knowledge will be expanded and success will be celebrated, thereby broadening the horizons for women in wheelchairs all over the world!
mobileWOMEN.org is very grateful for the support from W. M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, The California Endowment and Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
About Wendy Crawford - Founder & Managing Editor
Wendy’s advocacy on behalf of women with disabilities began in the 80s. Born in Ontario, Canada, she was a good student and also participated in many sports in high school. She was a long distance and track runner, equestrian, lifeguard and swimming instructor. Wendy moved to Toronto, Ontario after graduating from high school and became a fashion model.
Not long after she began working in Toronto and Montreal, she landed her first international contract--a two-month assignment in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately, on July 5, 1984, on the way to the airport, her car was rear-ended by a drunk driver, breaking her neck and rendering her a quadriplegic. She then spent almost three months in intensive care, fighting fevers and breathing problems due to the severity of her injury, followed by another seven months in intensive rehabilitation.
Upon hearing of Wendy’s accident, the Attorney General’s Office of Ontario Countermeasures Department against Drinking and Driving hired her as their spokesperson. She was asked to speak at high schools, community groups, mandatory sentencing programs, and institutions to convey her story and warn others of the perils of drinking and driving. During this period, Wendy was given the “Ontario Crime Prevention Award” twice by the Solicitor General of Ontario and honored as “Citizen of the Year” in her hometown of Cambridge, Ontario.
After five years of public speaking, Wendy became involved with a custom clothing business and often organized fundraising fashion shows for various charities. For years, Wendy has participated in many fundraisers aimed at raising awareness and funds for paralyzed women’s health programs and spinal cord injury research. This has included work with several types of special media events, including movie premiers, play premiers, and fashion shows.
One of the recipients of the funds Wendy has raised is the Canadian Spinal Research Organization (CSRO), where she volunteered for over seven years, acting as their spokesperson and holding the title of Secretary of the Board of Directors. Upon moving to the United States, she has volunteered for many American not-for-profit organizations and was one of the founders of a non-profit organization called DISCOVERY THROUGH DESIGN (DTD). Through DTD, she joined forces with three other dynamic women with similar stories to raise awareness and funds for paralyzed women’s health programs and spinal cord injury research by showcasing designer wheelchairs. The organization received an overwhelming response from the media worldwide, including an appearance on The Early Show.
As well as running mobileWOMEN.org, Wendy also is the founder and chairperson of a group called “Women Without Limits” of the United Spinal Association, a women’s advisory committee comprised of healthcare professionals and disabled women. The group is committed to enhancing the lives of all women with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) by identifying and addressing the many issues that are relevant in their lives. The group’s work is accomplished through education, advocacy, increasing awareness, and protecting civil rights to ensure adequate healthcare and expand the life choices of women with SCI/D.
Over the years, Wendy has remained athletically active, participating in many sports, such as swimming, SCUBA diving, hang-gliding, para-gliding, and kayaking. Recently, Wendy was one of twenty physically challenged models featured in a photography exhibit called Uncensored Life: Raw Beauty.
Not long after she began working in Toronto and Montreal, she landed her first international contract--a two-month assignment in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately, on July 5, 1984, on the way to the airport, her car was rear-ended by a drunk driver, breaking her neck and rendering her a quadriplegic. She then spent almost three months in intensive care, fighting fevers and breathing problems due to the severity of her injury, followed by another seven months in intensive rehabilitation.
Upon hearing of Wendy’s accident, the Attorney General’s Office of Ontario Countermeasures Department against Drinking and Driving hired her as their spokesperson. She was asked to speak at high schools, community groups, mandatory sentencing programs, and institutions to convey her story and warn others of the perils of drinking and driving. During this period, Wendy was given the “Ontario Crime Prevention Award” twice by the Solicitor General of Ontario and honored as “Citizen of the Year” in her hometown of Cambridge, Ontario.
After five years of public speaking, Wendy became involved with a custom clothing business and often organized fundraising fashion shows for various charities. For years, Wendy has participated in many fundraisers aimed at raising awareness and funds for paralyzed women’s health programs and spinal cord injury research. This has included work with several types of special media events, including movie premiers, play premiers, and fashion shows.
One of the recipients of the funds Wendy has raised is the Canadian Spinal Research Organization (CSRO), where she volunteered for over seven years, acting as their spokesperson and holding the title of Secretary of the Board of Directors. Upon moving to the United States, she has volunteered for many American not-for-profit organizations and was one of the founders of a non-profit organization called DISCOVERY THROUGH DESIGN (DTD). Through DTD, she joined forces with three other dynamic women with similar stories to raise awareness and funds for paralyzed women’s health programs and spinal cord injury research by showcasing designer wheelchairs. The organization received an overwhelming response from the media worldwide, including an appearance on The Early Show.
As well as running mobileWOMEN.org, Wendy also is the founder and chairperson of a group called “Women Without Limits” of the United Spinal Association, a women’s advisory committee comprised of healthcare professionals and disabled women. The group is committed to enhancing the lives of all women with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) by identifying and addressing the many issues that are relevant in their lives. The group’s work is accomplished through education, advocacy, increasing awareness, and protecting civil rights to ensure adequate healthcare and expand the life choices of women with SCI/D.
Over the years, Wendy has remained athletically active, participating in many sports, such as swimming, SCUBA diving, hang-gliding, para-gliding, and kayaking. Recently, Wendy was one of twenty physically challenged models featured in a photography exhibit called Uncensored Life: Raw Beauty.
About Kelly Rouba - Editor
Ms. Rouba, who has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, recently authored a book called Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide, which was published by Scarecrow Press. For the past few years, she has written for numerous magazines and Web sites.
Presently, Ms. Rouba is working full-time for EAD & Associates, an emergency management consultancy. She is also a DAE with the Dept. of Homeland Security/FEMA Region II. In the past, she has handled emergency preparedness issues relating to special needs populations for the region. She also sat on the NJ Special Needs Advisory Panel and is now a member of the Mercer County Special Needs CERT.
Recently, Ms. Rouba had the pleasure of working for Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein. She also worked for the Pennington Post as an editorial assistant, and she handled public relations projects for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton and Deutsch Communications Group in Princeton on a freelance basis.
Ms. Rouba is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She was also a member of the Event Media Committee for the Disability Pride & Power (Presidential) Inaugural Ball. Throughout her career, she has interviewed numerous notable personalities ranging from Duane Chapman (Dog the Bounty Hunter) to Elisabeth Hasselbeck (The View). In 2006, she was honored by New Jersey’s Department of Labor for her outstanding work ethic and success in the workplace as a local journalist and woman with a disability.
Ms. Rouba is a 2008 Governor’s Volunteerism Award recipient. In 2008, she was also named the first “Ag Femme” by Ag Apparel and a “Superstar” by CreakyJoints.org for her achievements. In 2009, she received a certificate of appreciation from the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission for her advocacy.
Ms. Rouba is a member of Project Freedom’s Board of Trustees and Hamilton Township’s Advisory Commission on the Status of Women. For several years, she has been the public relations chair for the Central New Jersey Kappa Delta Alumnae Association, and she previously held the position with the Kappa Delta Chapter Advisory Board at The College of New Jersey.
In addition, Ms. Rouba is a member of the Arthritis National Research Foundation’s Advisory Board, which named their Kelly Award for Juvenile Arthritis Research after her. She also has been publicity chair and a key organizer of the Arthritis Foundation’s Mercer County Arthritis Walk for several years. At the 2007 Walk, Assemblywoman Greenstein presented Ms. Rouba with a proclamation recognizing her community service efforts and role as a journalist.
In the past, Ms. Rouba was publicity chair of the Trenton St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Scholarship Committee for several years. In 2007 and 2009, she served on the planning committee for the NJ Governor’s Conference on Employment for People with Disabilities (now called DiscoverAbility). From December 2006 through February 2008, Ms. Rouba held the title of Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey. She also served as state program coordinator.
To date, Ms. Rouba has been featured in numerous publications and television programs, from ABC’s Perspective New Jersey to the Wall Street Journal. She was also introduced on Live With Regis & Kelly. In addition, she was featured in two commercials and has modeled for Ag Apparel and WheelieChix-Chic. Presently, Ms. Rouba is being filmed by Agency New Jersey for a documentary on juvenile arthritis. She also co-hosts and sits on the Board of the NJ-based television show Breaking Barriers.
Ms. Rouba earned her BA from The College of New Jersey in 2002, where she majored in Journalism/Professional Writing and minored in Communications.
