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.

Ashley is available for appearances please contact mswheelchairmass06@yahoo.com for more details.