The Wheelchair Roundtable ATP-End User Perspective

In this episode of The Wheelchair Roundtable , we sit down with Izzy for a powerful and deeply human conversation about survival, service, and rebuilding life after unimaginable turning points. Izzy shares his time in the United States Navy aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-60) during the era of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, reflecting on the intensity of military life and the expe...

Episode Description In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we reconnect with Eric as he shares life updates since his last appearance on the show, including the heartbreaking loss of his mother and the impact it has had on his mental health journey. Together, we have an honest conversation about grief, depression, resilience, and the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced within th...

At 22 years old, Michael Divel experienced a life-changing spinal cord injury after a tragic accident at a Fourth of July party left him with a T-12 complete SCI. What followed was not only the challenge of paralysis, but a brutal years-long fight against a stage 4 pressure wound complicated by MRSA and bone infection — resulting in 10 skin flap surgeries, months confined to bed, and some of the d...

In this powerful and deeply inspiring episode, we sit down with Corpus Christi TX native Alma Lee Garcia, a disability advocate whose life changed forever at just 24 years old after surviving a violent home invasion. Alma was shot in the neck with a 9mm round that entered the left front side of her neck and exited through her right scapula, leaving her with a T6 incomplete spinal cord injury. Doct...

We are joined by Henry C. Falcon, JR., PTA, CCI, MBA, CSCS, and take a deep dive into the world of Physical Therapy — from the evolution of the profession in the 1990s to where it’s headed in today’s healthcare landscape. Henry shares his journey into PT, the lessons learned over decades in the field, and what it takes to build a long-lasting career in rehabilitation. The conversation breaks down...

In this episode, we sit down with Yvette Barrera-Molina, an educational diagnostician with over 20 years of experience supporting students with disabilities and their families. Yvette began her career as a special education teacher and has since dedicated her work to evaluation, eligibility, and developing meaningful instructional plans that truly support student success. We take a deep dive into...

On this episode of The Wheelchair Roundtable, we’re joined by Mason Branstrator —an athlete, creator, and powerful voice for resilience whose life changed in an instant, but whose purpose only grew stronger. At just 17 years old, Mason sustained a spinal cord injury in a skiing accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. But what followed wasn’t the end of his story — it was the beginnin...

Today’s episode is a powerful reminder of what resilience truly looks like—and we’re joined by guest host S.J. Cimijotti, DPT, bringing clinical insight and perspective to the conversation. At just 10 years old, Peter Berry’s life was forever changed by a tragic car accident that left him and his brother paralyzed, injured his sister, and took the lives of both of his parents. It’s the kind of mom...

In this episode, we sit down with Esmer Perez LBSW, MSW, CART, a dedicated case manager at a Health Rehabilitation Hospital, to break down what really happens after a life-changing injury or illness. Esmer gives us an inside look at the critical role of a case manager—often acting as the “in-house attorney”—guiding patients and families through one of the most complex and emotional healthcare jour...

Recording Artist Paul C Cesar II brings a powerful and unfiltered conversation you don’t want to miss. After surviving a life-altering car accident at a young age and later facing a tumor attached to his spine that left him in a wheelchair, Paul shares his journey through adversity with raw honesty. He opens up about his injury, resilience, and the mindset it took to rebuild his life. We dive into...

In this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table , we sit down with Mike Garrison — a stand-up comedian, husband, and proud dad of twins who’s redefining what it means to roll through life with purpose and humor. After a life-changing motocross accident left him paralyzed, Mike faced a completely new reality. But instead of backing down, he leaned in — building a family, embracing fatherhood from a w...

Nancy shares the powerful story of raising her son Christopher, now 20, who was born with cerebral palsy. In the early years, Nancy struggled to understand what was happening. Like many parents, she didn’t have the knowledge or guidance to recognize the resources available for children with disabilities. In her own words, she was “ignorant”—not from a lack of love, but from a lack of direction. Ev...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Nicolas Comstock — host of the Nick Speaks Podcast — for an honest and deeply personal conversation about resilience, independence, and finding purpose. Nicolas shares what it was like growing up with an identical twin brother who was not born with a disability, and how that dynamic shaped his childhood and identity. He opens up about the challenges he fa...

In this powerful episode of the WABC Show , we sit down with current Heavyweight Wheelchair Boxing Champion Jody Bennet , alongside WABC Founder Collin and CFO Terry , for an inside look at the momentum building behind the World Adaptive Boxing Council. Joining us from the UK, Collin — a former semi-pro rugby player — shares the vision that sparked the creation of WABC and how adaptive boxing is c...

In this powerful and down-to-earth episode, we sit down with Lelan for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like three friends talking beside the tailgate after a long day. At 22 years old, Leland’s life changed in an instant when an accident left him paralyzed from the T4 level down. He shares what those early days were really like, including his inpatient rehab experience at...

In this episode, we sit down with Logan K. Finn to unpack a story shaped by resilience, struggle, and transformation. Born with spina bifida, Logan grew up feeling loved and supported — so much so that he often says he didn’t realize he had a disability. But in seventh grade, a spinal tethering surgery left him using a wheelchair. Still, he stayed active in school and pushed forward socially and a...

Accessibility isn’t a courtesy — it’s a civil right. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Kristy Durso —accessible travel advocate, travel agent, wheelchair user, and co-founder of Spectrum of Accessibility —to unpack what public accessibility really looks like and why travel remains one of the most exclusionary experiences for disabled people. Kristy shares her life before becoming a full-t...

This is one of those episodes that stays with you long after the microphones are turned off. This conversation goes where disability conversations often don’t —into the quiet, heavy places. We talk about depression. Anxiety. The mental and emotional toll of disability that so often gets overlooked once the hospital stays end and the equipment is delivered. Our guest is Mike Kent , a Disability Lif...

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of gun violence, physical assault, and traumatic injury. Listener discretion is advised. Joseph Huerta’s story is one of brilliance, hardship, survival, and hard-earned faith. A top graduate in his class, Joseph’s life took an unexpected turn after family separation led him into homelessness, living in a tent city and navigating daily survival....

At just 12 years old, Giusiana Prosser began experiencing medical symptoms that would change her life — symptoms that were dismissed, minimized, and misunderstood for years. After being told it was “all in her head,” Giusiana never stopped advocating for herself. At 19, she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome , and at 21 with Andersen–Tawil Syndrome , finally giving a name to what her body h...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tyler Keller, whose journey is rooted in grit, faith, and resilience. Tyler grew up on a small farm in Michigan, surrounded by rodeo culture—both of his parents were professional rodeo athletes, as were his older sisters. Following in their footsteps, Tyler competed at a national level, earning rodeo scholarships to Lamar Community College and later North...

In this episode, we sit down with Frances “Fran” Esteves, an Occupational Therapist with nearly 19 years of experience serving students across the Rio Grande Valley. Fran shares how her lifelong connection to movement — from dancing with a semi-professional ballet company to teaching classical ballet in North Dakota and coaching rhythmic gymnastics in McAllen — shaped her passion for working with...

Episode Description — Season 1 Finale: “The First 15” In this special season finale, we hit pause and look back at the journey that brought us here. From powerful comeback stories to raw, unfiltered conversations about resilience, purpose, and real-life struggles, we revisit the first 15 episodes that shaped Season 1. Join us as we reflect on the lessons learned, the guests who left a mark, the mo...

At just 17 years old, Charlie Merritt made a promise — to serve, to lead, and to never back down. Following in his father’s footsteps, he earned the title of United States Marine at Parris Island, beginning a journey defined by grit, discipline, and heart. After eight years on active duty and four in the reserves, Charlie carried that same intensity into life beyond the Corps — playing semi-pro fo...

For as long as he can remember, Mario Bonfante has lived for speed — from BMX tracks and motocross jumps to the smooth pavement of road racing. By the time he was sixteen, he had earned his pro card, chasing the dream of becoming one of the best. But in September of 2006, a BMX crash changed everything. The accident left him paralyzed — but not powerless. After months in the hospital and years of...