{"id":10094,"date":"2025-07-13T00:23:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T00:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/?p=10094"},"modified":"2025-07-13T19:38:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T19:38:44","slug":"meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Meet eight inspiring Manitobans who are reshaping what accessibility, advocacy, and resilience look like in our province. From elite athletes to rural changemakers, each of these individuals is using their lived experience to drive inclusion and challenge barriers. This blog introduces Karina Cardona, Michael Mifflin, Jared Funk, David Tweed, Alex Lytwyn, Leanne Taylor, Kirby C\u00f4t\u00e9, and Peter Tonge\u2014leaders whose stories are as diverse as they are powerful. And there are more advocate stories to come. Stay tuned as we share their full stories in an upcoming feature series.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/Meet Manitobans who are Transforming Accessibility in our Communities.\">Meet Manitobans who are Transforming Accessibility in our Communities.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stories of Resilience: 8 Manitoba Advocates Leading the Way in Accessibility<\/p>\n<p>Across Manitoba, a bold community of advocates is challenging outdated systems, dismantling ableism, and empowering people with disabilities to live fully and freely. At the heart of this movement are individuals who\u2019ve turned personal challenges into platforms for change.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re proud to introduce eight remarkable Manitobans whose lived experiences and leadership are transforming accessibility in our province. From sport and education to policy, health, and grassroots activism, these voices are pushing conversations forward\u2014and making sure no one is left behind.<\/p>\n<p>In the weeks ahead, we\u2019ll dive deeper into each of their stories and community reflections. But for now, meet the change-makers behind the movement:<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Karina Cardona<\/p>\n<p>Karina Cardona is a vibrant disability advocate and inclusion educator based in Winnipeg. Living with a spinal cord injury, she\u2019s passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices through youth mentorship, public speaking, and inclusive design consulting. Karina leads with empathy, purpose, and a strong commitment to equity\u2014always centering the human experience behind accessibility.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Michael Mifflin<\/p>\n<p>Michael Mifflin is a community leader and wheelchair user dedicated to dismantling physical and societal barriers. His advocacy spans inclusive employment, adaptive transportation, and public access initiatives. Michael\u2019s entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative spirit are helping to reshape Manitoba\u2019s accessibility landscape from the ground up.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Jared Funk<\/p>\n<p>Once a competitive volleyball player, Jared Funk\u2019s life changed after a car accident left him quadriplegic. He went on to become a celebrated wheelchair rugby athlete and a silver-medalist with Team Canada. Today, Jared is a powerful voice for adaptive sport and spinal cord injury support, encouraging others to embrace possibility and rebuild with purpose.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>David Tweed<\/p>\n<p>David Tweed, a Certified Access Consultant, combines lived experience with professional expertise through his business, The Access Store. After sustaining a spinal cord injury, David became a leading voice in accessible design and housing. He advocates not just for function, but for dignity\u2014ensuring everyone has the right to safe, independent living.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Alex Lytwyn<\/p>\n<p>Growing up in rural Manitoba with cerebral palsy, Alex Lytwyn has spent his life navigating a system that often overlooks remote communities. From wheelchair repair delays to restrictive home care, Alex\u2019s story shines a light on the overlooked realities of rural disability life. Through writing, public speaking, and advocacy, he is pushing for practical, compassionate change.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Leanne Taylor<\/p>\n<p>After a cycling accident left her paralyzed, Leanne Taylor didn\u2019t slow down\u2014she rose up. Now a world-class para-triathlete and a medalist on the international stage, Leanne represents Canada with pride and resilience. She\u2019s also an outspoken advocate for accessible employment and mental health recovery, proving that progress happens one step\u2014and one pedal stroke\u2014at a time.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Kirby C\u00f4t\u00e9<\/p>\n<p>Kirby C\u00f4t\u00e9 is one of Canada\u2019s most decorated Paralympic swimmers, but her influence extends far beyond the pool. Blind since birth, she\u2019s also a fierce community organizer, a speaker, and an advocate for authentic disability representation. Kirby uses her platform to inspire others to \u201cspeak loud and take up space\u201d\u2014a mantra she lives by every day.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd39<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Peter Tonge<\/p>\n<p>Peter Tonge\u2019s journey spans decades of activism, beginning when his parents fought to get him into a regular classroom in the 1960s. Since then, he\u2019s become a lawyer, software developer, wheelchair fencing athlete, and respected accessibility consultant. Whether conducting audits, designing inclusive programs, or mentoring others, Peter\u2019s legacy is one of quiet but determined transformation.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udce3<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Follow the Series<\/p>\n<p>This is just the beginning.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next few weeks, we\u2019ll be sharing stories about each of these incredible individuals and others, diving into their lived experiences, lessons learned, and ongoing missions. Stay tuned, subscribe to our updates, and help amplify the voices of Manitoba\u2019s disability community.<\/p>\n<p>Because resilience isn\u2019t just about recovery\u2014it\u2019s about rising together.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet eight inspiring Manitobans who are reshaping what accessibility, advocacy, and resilience look like in our province. From elite athletes to rural changemakers, each of these individuals is using their lived experience to drive inclusion and challenge barriers. This blog introduces Karina Cardona, Michael Mifflin, Jared Funk, David Tweed, Alex Lytwyn, Leanne Taylor, Kirby C\u00f4t\u00e9, and Peter Tonge\u2014leaders whose stories are as diverse as they are powerful. And there are more advocate stories to come. Stay tuned as we share their full stories in an upcoming feature series. Meet Manitobans who are Transforming Accessibility in our Communities. Stories of Resilience: 8 Manitoba Advocates Leading the Way in Accessibility Across Manitoba, a bold community of advocates is challenging outdated systems, dismantling ableism, and empowering people with disabilities to live fully and freely. At the heart of this movement are individuals who\u2019ve turned personal challenges into platforms for change. We\u2019re proud to introduce eight remarkable Manitobans whose lived experiences and leadership are transforming accessibility in our province. From sport and education to policy, health, and grassroots activism, these voices are pushing conversations forward\u2014and making sure no one is left behind. In the weeks ahead, we\u2019ll dive deeper into each of their stories and community reflections. But for now, meet the change-makers behind the movement: \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 Karina Cardona Karina Cardona is a vibrant disability advocate and inclusion educator based in Winnipeg. Living with a spinal cord injury, she\u2019s passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices through youth mentorship, public speaking, and inclusive design consulting. Karina leads with empathy, purpose, and a strong commitment to equity\u2014always centering the human experience behind accessibility. \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 Michael Mifflin Michael Mifflin is a community leader and wheelchair user dedicated to dismantling physical and societal barriers. His advocacy spans inclusive employment, adaptive transportation, and public access initiatives. Michael\u2019s entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative spirit are helping to reshape Manitoba\u2019s accessibility landscape from the ground up. \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 Jared Funk Once a competitive volleyball player, Jared Funk\u2019s life changed after a car accident left him quadriplegic. He went on to become a celebrated wheelchair rugby athlete and a silver-medalist with Team Canada. Today, Jared is a powerful voice for adaptive sport and spinal cord injury support, encouraging others to embrace possibility and rebuild with purpose. \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 David Tweed David Tweed, a Certified Access Consultant, combines lived experience with professional expertise through his business, The Access Store. After sustaining a spinal cord injury, David became a leading voice in accessible design and housing. He advocates not just for function, but for dignity\u2014ensuring everyone has the right to safe, independent living. \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 Alex Lytwyn Growing up in rural Manitoba with cerebral palsy, Alex Lytwyn has spent his life navigating a system that often overlooks remote communities. From wheelchair repair delays to restrictive home care, Alex\u2019s story shines a light on the overlooked realities of rural disability life. Through writing, public speaking, and advocacy, he is pushing for practical, compassionate change. \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 Leanne Taylor After a cycling accident left her paralyzed, Leanne Taylor didn\u2019t slow down\u2014she rose up. Now a world-class para-triathlete and a medalist on the international stage, Leanne represents Canada with pride and resilience. She\u2019s also an outspoken advocate for accessible employment and mental health recovery, proving that progress happens one step\u2014and one pedal stroke\u2014at a time. \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 Kirby C\u00f4t\u00e9 Kirby C\u00f4t\u00e9 is one of Canada\u2019s most decorated Paralympic swimmers, but her influence extends far beyond the pool. Blind since birth, she\u2019s also a fierce community organizer, a speaker, and an advocate for authentic disability representation. Kirby uses her platform to inspire others to \u201cspeak loud and take up space\u201d\u2014a mantra she lives by every day. \ud83d\udd39\u00a0 Peter Tonge Peter Tonge\u2019s journey spans decades of activism, beginning when his parents fought to get him into a regular classroom in the 1960s. Since then, he\u2019s become a lawyer, software developer, wheelchair fencing athlete, and respected accessibility consultant. Whether conducting audits, designing inclusive programs, or mentoring others, Peter\u2019s legacy is one of quiet but determined transformation. \ud83d\udce3\u00a0 Follow the Series This is just the beginning. Over the next few weeks, we\u2019ll be sharing stories about each of these incredible individuals and others, diving into their lived experiences, lessons learned, and ongoing missions. Stay tuned, subscribe to our updates, and help amplify the voices of Manitoba\u2019s disability community. Because resilience isn\u2019t just about recovery\u2014it\u2019s about rising together. &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[1112,915,1107,224,1108,1111,1109,132,1113,1110,117],"class_list":["post-10094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","tag-activist","tag-advocate","tag-advocates","tag-community","tag-inspirational","tag-leader","tag-leaders","tag-manitoba","tag-manitobans-with-disabilities","tag-resilience","tag-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience - Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"eight 8 advocates Manitoba leading the way in accessibility rights and leadership resilience community leaders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience - Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"eight 8 advocates Manitoba leading the way in accessibility rights and leadership resilience community leaders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-13T00:23:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-13T19:38:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"535\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"478\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"LOEWEN\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"LOEWEN\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"LOEWEN\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/person\/0489a539901f01db7908586363e95801\"},\"headline\":\"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-13T00:23:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-13T19:38:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/\"},\"wordCount\":750,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"activist\",\"advocate\",\"advocates\",\"community\",\"inspirational\",\"leader\",\"leaders\",\"Manitoba\",\"Manitobans with disabilities\",\"resilience\",\"stories\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Blogs\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/\",\"name\":\"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience - Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-13T00:23:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-13T19:38:44+00:00\",\"description\":\"eight 8 advocates Manitoba leading the way in accessibility rights and leadership resilience community leaders\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg\",\"width\":535,\"height\":478},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/\",\"name\":\"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba\",\"description\":\"Manitoba Disability Activities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Wheelchair-Adventures-3-e1748636059767.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Wheelchair-Adventures-3-e1748636059767.webp\",\"width\":183,\"height\":41,\"caption\":\"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/person\/0489a539901f01db7908586363e95801\",\"name\":\"LOEWEN\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/517ac38bd02eeb1ba18b00f8ff2df8f3eee2bdc55c5990023a2915f99e7b0370?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/517ac38bd02eeb1ba18b00f8ff2df8f3eee2bdc55c5990023a2915f99e7b0370?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"LOEWEN\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/author\/george\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience - Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba","description":"eight 8 advocates Manitoba leading the way in accessibility rights and leadership resilience community leaders","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience - Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba","og_description":"eight 8 advocates Manitoba leading the way in accessibility rights and leadership resilience community leaders","og_url":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/","og_site_name":"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba","article_published_time":"2025-07-13T00:23:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-13T19:38:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":535,"height":478,"url":"http:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"LOEWEN","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"LOEWEN","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/"},"author":{"name":"LOEWEN","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/person\/0489a539901f01db7908586363e95801"},"headline":"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience","datePublished":"2025-07-13T00:23:19+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-13T19:38:44+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/"},"wordCount":750,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg","keywords":["activist","advocate","advocates","community","inspirational","leader","leaders","Manitoba","Manitobans with disabilities","resilience","stories"],"articleSection":["Blogs"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/","url":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/","name":"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience - Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-07-13T00:23:19+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-13T19:38:44+00:00","description":"eight 8 advocates Manitoba leading the way in accessibility rights and leadership resilience community leaders","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_1083.jpeg","width":535,"height":478},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/meet-8-manitoba-disability-advocates-and-their-stories-of-resilience\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Meet 8 Manitoba Disability Advocates and their Stories of Resilience"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#website","url":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/","name":"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba","description":"Manitoba Disability Activities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#organization","name":"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba","url":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Wheelchair-Adventures-3-e1748636059767.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Wheelchair-Adventures-3-e1748636059767.webp","width":183,"height":41,"caption":"Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/person\/0489a539901f01db7908586363e95801","name":"LOEWEN","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/517ac38bd02eeb1ba18b00f8ff2df8f3eee2bdc55c5990023a2915f99e7b0370?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/517ac38bd02eeb1ba18b00f8ff2df8f3eee2bdc55c5990023a2915f99e7b0370?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"LOEWEN"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1"],"url":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/listing\/author\/george\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10094\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wheelchairmanitoba.com\/mystaging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}