Physical Disability

<p>From government and policy to insurance regulation, Ted Kennedy, Jr. offers a multidimensional, insider’s look at the state of healthcare today.</p><p>As an amputee and childhood bone cancer survivor, Ted has spent his life fighting for fairness, justice and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2017, he was elected Board Chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), one of the country’s preeminent civil rights and public policy organizations dedicated to social reform and equal rights for people with disabilities.

<p>Keynote speaker Mike Schlappi has an inspiring message for every American, young or old: “Just because you can’t stand up, doesn’t mean you can’t stand out.” </p><p>As president of Mike Schlappi Communications, and confined to a wheelchair, he is spreading that word to audiences ranging from students to chief executive officers, from rookies to Olympic champions, and from small gatherings to major conventions.</p><p>At the age of 14, Schlappi was student body president, had been awarded his Eagle Scout and was a competitive athlete when he was involved in a

<p>Oprah Winfrey calls Amy Purdy her inspiration. As a young girl, Purdy dreamed of sailing through fresh powder restrained only by a snowboard attached to two feet. Above all, she dreamed of freedom, of the chance to craft a personal narrative of her own choosing.

<p>No obstacle is too big to overcome for Jim Abbott.  After being born with only one hand, the pursuit to making it to the major leagues did not deter him. As the first baseball player to win the Sullivan Award as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete in 1987, Abbott went on to represent Team USA and became the first American pitcher in 25 years to beat a Cuban team on Cuban soil.

<p>Amy Van Dyken is a 6-time Olympic gold medal champion swimmer who made history as the most successful athlete at the ’96 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and the first American female athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympic games.</p>

<p>Van Dyken began swimming at age six in an effort to relieve childhood asthma, through which she developed a strong "will to win." That strength made her a star in the ‘96 Games, despite competing with about 65% of normal lung capacity.</p>

<p>RJ Mitte engages, educates and inspires with candid discussion of transforming obstacles into assets and preventing bullying.</p><p>RJ is best known for playing Walt Jr. on the Emmy-winning AMC drama <i>Breaking Bad</i>, – like his character on the show, he also battles with cerebral palsy.