Biography - Alyson Roth

Alyson grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and attended church every time the doors were open. She was actively involved in Sunday School, mission trips, and various ministries both at church and in school to help bring others closer to a relationship with Jesus. The Bible became a source of stability and comfort to her through her adolescence and teenage years as she grew up in a less than ideal home enviornment.

The summer before her senior year in college following a missionary assignment in Northern California, Alyson was involved in a near-fatal car accident that left her with a spinal cord injury and paralyzed from the waist down. Within a matter of seconds, her life went from planned out to completely chaotic and unfamiliar. The God that she had relied on for strength and support her entire life was all of the sudden no where to be seen. The life she knew was completely gone, and her hopes and dreams were completely shattered. That morning in July, she went from walking around just hours before at a gas station to lying in the middle of the desert - paralyzed.

Though trying desperately to hold on to the life she once knew before the car accident, Alyson slowly started questioning not only her friendship with her best friend and driver of the car at the time of the accident, but also the omnipotence and provision of God. Where was He that morning as she lay in the desert? Why did He allow this to happen to her?

God has promised us in Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." Through her own pain and struggles, Alyson has learned that God will take care of those who suffer as He did with her and that all the years of hurt will be restored in the Lord's time for a better purpose in the end. In the meantime, she feels compelled to live and exude excellence in the name of Jesus and be a voice for those who desperately need mobility in all around the world.

Alyson made history as the first woman with a disability to surf in the U.S. Open of Surfing on July 26, 2009. She was also crowned "Ms. Wheelchair California" on April 4, 2009 in Sacramento at the state pageant, and placed 2nd Runner Up at the "Ms Wheelchair America" pageant in Rapid City, SD in August 2010. She also holds a feature role in the documentary "Defining Beauty: Ms. Wheelchair America," a film to help break stigmas of those with disabilities. It held its World Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in May 2011 and received "Best Documentary" at the Staten Island Film Festival in June 2011.

Alyson obtained her BS in Music Education at Samford University and her MS in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University. After graduation, she taught music in the public and private school sector for several years before joining Free Wheelchair Mission in 2007. Free Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization that distributes wheelchairs to over 80 countries around the world to the poorest people with disabilities for free. The cost of each wheelchair is only $63.94! In September 2011, she joined a company that helps promote the awareness of movement therapy for those with disabilities and other mobility limitations. In addition, she currently assists with the Ms. Wheelchair America program and Leadership Institute and is on the Board of Directors for the Ms. Wheelchair California Foundation. Most recently in December 2011, Alyson was asked to be a test pilot for Ekso Bionics which was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Alyson continues to be an advocate wherever she goes.

Yosemite National Park is now more wheelchair friendly and ADA compliant due to Alyson’s input while sitting on the Board of Directors. She has assisted Habitat for Humanity to help build a house for a disabled member of the Atlanta inner-city community. In an attempt to bring more recognition to those with disabilities, Alyson presented the “Ability through Mobility” Award to four recipients around the country for their outstanding work within their community despite their disability. She has traveled to Nicaragua to work at an orphanage for children with disabilities and teach music at a school for the blind. Alyson has also traveled to Mexico to deliver wheelchairs to the country’s poorest people with disabilities and has had the opportunity to collaborate with the former president of Mexico, President Vicente Fox, about the importance of providing wheelchairs to the citizens of Mexico in addition to providing aide and healthcare to everyone.

Alyson currently resides in Southern California and speaks to legislative officials, community groups, churches, and schools around the country as well as writing articles for various publications. In her free time, she enjoys photography, spending time outdoors, surfing, swimming, writing, baking, music, and enjoying time with friends and family. It is Alyson's desire to educate the public on the truths of having a disability, hurt, habit, or hang-up and empower those to be all they can be in a world full of possibilities.




Biography Gallery Then The Accident Now Updates News Sponsors Blog Media Articles Multimedia Testimonials Contact Alyson	Alyson grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and attended church every time the doors were open. She was actively involved in Sunday School, mission trips, and various ministries both at church and in school to help bring others closer to a relationship with Jesus. The Bible became a source of stability and comfort to her through her adolescence and teenage years as she grew up in a less than ideal home enviornment. The summer before her senior year in college following a missionary assignment in Northern California, Alyson was involved in a near-fatal car accident that left her with a spinal cord injury and paralyzed from the waist down. Within a matter of seconds, her life went from planned out to completely chaotic and unfamiliar. The God that she had relied on for strength and support her entire life was all of the sudden no where to be seen. The life she knew was completely gone, and her hopes and dreams were completely shattered. That morning in July, she went from walking around just hours before at a gas station to lying in the middle of the desert - paralyzed. Though trying desperately to hold on to the life she once knew before the car accident, Alyson slowly started questioning not only her friendship with her best friend and driver of the car at the time of the accident, but also the omnipotence and provision of God. Where was He that morning as she lay in the desert? Why did He allow this to happen to her? God has promised us in Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." Through her own pain and struggles, Alyson has learned that God will take care of those who suffer as He did with her and that all the years of hurt will be restored in the Lord's time for a better purpose in the end. In the meantime, she feels compelled to live and exude excellence in the name of Jesus and be a voice for those who desperately need mobility in all around the world. Alyson made history as the first woman with a disability to surf in the U.S. Open of Surfing on July 26, 2009. She was also crowned "Ms. Wheelchair California" on April 4, 2009 in Sacramento at the state pageant, and placed 2nd Runner Up at the "Ms Wheelchair America" pageant in Rapid City, SD in August 2010. She also holds a feature role in the documentary "Defining Beauty: Ms. Wheelchair America," a film to help break stigmas of those with disabilities. It held its World Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in May 2011 and received "Best Documentary" at the Staten Island Film Festival in June 2011. Alyson obtained her BS in Music Education at Samford University and her MS in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University. After graduation, she taught music in the public and private school sector for several years before joining Free Wheelchair Mission in 2007. Free Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization that distributes wheelchairs to over 80 countries around the world to the poorest people with disabilities for free. The cost of each wheelchair is only $63.94! In September 2011, she joined a company that helps promote the awareness of movement therapy for those with disabilities and other mobility limitations. In addition, she currently assists with the Ms. Wheelchair America program and Leadership Institute and is on the Board of Directors for the Ms. Wheelchair California Foundation. Most recently in December 2011, Alyson was asked to be a test pilot for Ekso Bionics which was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Alyson continues to be an advocate wherever she goes. Yosemite National Park is now more wheelchair friendly and ADA compliant due to Alyson’s input while sitting on the Board of Directors. She has assisted Habitat for Humanity to help build a house for a disabled member of the Atlanta inner-city community. In an attempt to bring more recognition to those with disabilities, Alyson presented the “Ability through Mobility” Award to four recipients around the country for their outstanding work within their community despite their disability. She has traveled to Nicaragua to work at an orphanage for children with disabilities and teach music at a school for the blind. Alyson has also traveled to Mexico to deliver wheelchairs to the country’s poorest people with disabilities and has had the opportunity to collaborate with the former president of Mexico, President Vicente Fox, about the importance of providing wheelchairs to the citizens of Mexico in addition to providing aide and healthcare to everyone. Alyson currently resides in Southern California and speaks to legislative officials, community groups, churches, and schools around the country as well as writing articles for various publications. In her free time, she enjoys photography, spending time outdoors, surfing, swimming, writing, baking, music, and enjoying time with friends and family. It is Alyson's desire to educate the public on the truths of having a disability, hurt, habit, or hang-up and empower those to be all they can be in a world full of possibilities.