A car accident left Justin paralyzed from the neck down. He faced all the challenges with his strong will and the support of his family and today he is actively working towards inclusivity and assistive technologies. Justin has also been an elite para-athlete at the world stage for the sports of swimming and rifle shooting where he amassed seven gold medals and several national championships. His passion for disability sports led to his participation in the US Department of State's sports diplomacy exchange program.

What was the toughest phase after you met with an accident? Whose support was instrumental for you during that phase?J: The first year and half after my accident was the toughest. A neck down paralysis leaves you with a lot of uncertainty. It is not just the inability to walk but no bladder and bowel control, inability to regulate body temperature, vulnerability to infections, pressure sores and postural hypotension - you just don't know which problem to deal with and how, when they hit you all at once. My family was my hands and legs 24x7. Only after a year and half, I had two startling realizations -
1.  I am not living my life fully and am not letting my family live theirs too
2.  Why am I still focusing on things that are no longer in my control (lower body, forearms and fingers), instead, why not focus on my shoulders and biceps.
These realizations transformed me from being completely dependent to interdependent to being completely independent and now raising our toddler twins who are completely dependent on us!

Can you tell us about your involvement in assistive technology?J: Assistive technologies enable and empower persons with disability. They bring equity to the table and open up possibilities for persons with disability. I have been indirectly working with innovators, researchers and institutions in this space for the last 6 years. Recently, I quit my corporate career and joined a research lab at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, where we design and develop affordable assistive devices for people with locomotor disability.

What is the best way to promote inclusiveness?J: Inclusion starts with an 'I'. Everyone needs to embrace it. Inclusion is not inviting everyone to the party (that's diversity) but asking everyone to participate (or dance) is inclusion. For this, equity is very important. If the dance floor is not accessible, how will everyone participate? Let's create universal environment, without any barriers. Diversity and inclusion will automatically happen.

What are your other hobbies?J: Right now, it's parenting. The plate is full. Otherwise, I love long drives, traveling, meeting new people.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?J: I have enjoyed my visits to Switzerland (Lucerne particularly) and Niagara, on the Canadian side. I love nature and the contrast it brings from civilization.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?J: Disability can be measured by giving different grades with set parameters but ability can't be measured. Let's give wings to our children to explore their abilities and do whatever they want. Let's be an enabler so that they empower themselves and live a happy life.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in sports?J: Sports has been a game changer for me. Despite the severity of my disability, I travel the world alone, drive a car, SCUBA dive, beach surf and during the Corona virus lockdown, was stuck completely by myself for 6-7 weeks. I owe all of this to the fitness and never-say-die attitude sports gave me.

Any special message for our community?J: Let's find reasons to enable ourselves. Let's refuse to be victims of our circumstances and look at being the hero of our life and script our own story.