Ashley Speicher is 23 years old from Lynn, MA. Ashley grew up in Beverly,
MA with her younger sister, Lisa, younger brother Jamie and parents Jim
and Diane. She lived a normal childhood playing soccer, softball, and
cheerleading until May 1996 when she became ill. She was diagnosed with
glycogen storage disease, a form of muscular dystrophy (MD). She had a
heart transplant on January 4, 1997.
In 2004, Ashley began to use a wheelchair due to weakness in her legs
caused by the MD. Since then, Ashley has become an active advocate for
people with disabilities. She has spoken on several disability awareness
panels and served on the A.D.A./504 committee at her alma mater,
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) where she graduated magna
cum laude in 2007.
Her volunteer work includes travels to Pass Christian, MS and Pecan Island,
LA to help with Hurricane Katrina clean-up, serving in the Governor of New
Hampshire’s successful re-election campaign in 2006, and with the
American Red Cross in 2005. Her awards include the Emerging Leader of
the Year (2006) from SNHU and Youth Leadership Award (2007) from
Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann (ILCNSCA).
For almost two years, Ashley worked at ILCNSCA as a Peer Guide and later
as their Community Transition Coordinator. She currently works at Action
Inc. in Gloucester, MA and is a volunteer for the New England Organ Bank.
She remains committed to giving people with disabilities a voice through
voting and participating in the shaping of public policy.
Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2009 Ashley Speicher is available for
appearances. Please contact Autumn Grant at
mswheelchairmass06@yahoo.com.
MA with her younger sister, Lisa, younger brother Jamie and parents Jim
and Diane. She lived a normal childhood playing soccer, softball, and
cheerleading until May 1996 when she became ill. She was diagnosed with
glycogen storage disease, a form of muscular dystrophy (MD). She had a
heart transplant on January 4, 1997.
In 2004, Ashley began to use a wheelchair due to weakness in her legs
caused by the MD. Since then, Ashley has become an active advocate for
people with disabilities. She has spoken on several disability awareness
panels and served on the A.D.A./504 committee at her alma mater,
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) where she graduated magna
cum laude in 2007.
Her volunteer work includes travels to Pass Christian, MS and Pecan Island,
LA to help with Hurricane Katrina clean-up, serving in the Governor of New
Hampshire’s successful re-election campaign in 2006, and with the
American Red Cross in 2005. Her awards include the Emerging Leader of
the Year (2006) from SNHU and Youth Leadership Award (2007) from
Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann (ILCNSCA).
For almost two years, Ashley worked at ILCNSCA as a Peer Guide and later
as their Community Transition Coordinator. She currently works at Action
Inc. in Gloucester, MA and is a volunteer for the New England Organ Bank.
She remains committed to giving people with disabilities a voice through
voting and participating in the shaping of public policy.
Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2009 Ashley Speicher is available for
appearances. Please contact Autumn Grant at
mswheelchairmass06@yahoo.com.
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| A Program of Achievement, Advocacy and Opportunity for Women with disAbilities in Massachusetts |