She became fully dependent on a wheelchair at the age of 12 due to transverse myelitis. She attend Murrow High School where she felt there had to be more then just the “special education” section. Her rebel attitude cleared way for fellow able bodied students to see past her chair. During her days at College of Staten Island, she became fully emerced in college life by joining a sorority. While in
the sorority she started a group called Freshman Connections and paired up incoming freshman with upper classman to have a sense of mentorship. Now at the age of 25 her determination to educate others with a sense of pride for whatever they are going through has lead her to become great friends with Jessica. Though their friendship was by complete chance it has grown into a partnership, making others feel great as they do about themselves. Anrdea self motto is 'don't get my personality and attitude twisted because my personality is me and my attitude depends on you!'
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Jessica De La Rosa born and raised in New York City, comes from a family of disabled parents and siblings. A mother with Cerebral Palsy which occurred after birth due to a fever, 'a s***m donor', as well as a brother and half sister with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bone Disease. Throughout her lifetime Jessica has had many surgeries, fractures and physical barriers. Raised by her mother who is also wheelchair bound, they had to learn to get around and help each other. Adapting ways to reach things, pick things up, and learning how to hold on to her mothers chair so they could travel independently together were only a few of the obstacles that her and her mother overcame. Throughout her education Jessica was a mainstreamed student, with an IEP so that she could get physical therapy, Adapted Physical Education and a Paraprofessional. After graduating high school Jessica went to college at John Jay University and got a degree in Security Management. Currently Jessica is active in many physical activities which included rowing with the team Row New York. After only seven months of rowing, she participated in her first after regatta in Boston MA, and placed 5th in her division against other athletes which included, a para olympian and three other rowers with 5 plus years experience. She also does wheelchair ballet for Infinity Dance Theater, a non-profit organization for people with disabilities who dance ballet and contemporary dance. Recently she just did her first recital and was thrilled to be apart of the experience. After meeting Andrea, they quickly became very close friends and saw how they could help organizations and individuals with disabilities seek their highest potential. 'Nothing stops me but a flight of stairs, and even those, if you can give me some time, I can overcome!' Jessica has said, 'and Andrea and I want to spread this type of confidence and hope into the lives of many others.
