Understanding Spina Bifida

An exploration of the characteristics of Spina Bifida, common co-occurring health conditions, and how to design a training program that accounts for the physiological and anatomical characteristics of the diagnosis.

Write your awesome label here.

Dr. Benjamin Conner

Dr. Conner is a physician-scientist in-training, currently completing his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has been involved in research on cerebral palsy for the past 10 years, with specific focus on musculoskeletal health, motor control, and assistive devices. He has a passion for strength and conditioning, and exploring the various ways that increased accessibility to the fitness industry can better the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Steve Ferreira

Steve Ferreira is an athlete, influencer, entrepreneur, writer, and disabilities advocate. Steve was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1988 and was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy shortly after birth. At the age of 15, he started speaking at local high schools about what it is like to live with a disability. He has spoken at schools, colleges, conferences, and businesses. In 2022 he did a TEDx presentation in Santa Barbara, California which can be found on www.ted.com.

Steve is a passionate motivational speaker dedicated to raising disability awareness in every community he visits. His goal is to positively affect the lives of people with disabilities and to motivate individuals to accomplish their goals at their own pace. In November, 2011, he started a nonprofit called Beyond Disabilities to further his mission. Currently, Steve is involved in two projects that relate to accessibility and fitness for people in wheelchairs. He is working with the Engineering Department at UC Santa Barbara to build an adaptive tool to be used in gyms. He is also working with a local high school to create an accessible rowing machine which can be used by people in wheelchairs, as well as, their able-bodied peers. This will enable people in wheelchairs to work out in the gym alongside their peers.

Jocelyn Cohen

Jocelyn Cohen is a storyteller who appreciates deep, interesting conversations — and she loves facilitating and sharing them via Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation’s podcast, webinars, disability tech talks, and other discussions. She has cerebral palsy, and she understands that people with CP each experience it differently — it’s personal. Jocelyn is energized by CPARF’s work and she’s proud to use her voice and professional expertise to make a difference for other people with CP.

Prior to joining CPARF, she spent more than six years at UJA-Federation of New York, where she shaped messaging and drove fundraising communications for some of the organization’s largest divisions, helping to raise nearly $46 million each year. In addition to her communications leadership, Jocelyn spearheaded marketing plans for several fundraising events each year. She also worked as a Communications Specialist at Katten.

Outside of work, Jocelyn often speaks with local physical therapy students about her life with CP, hoping to positively influence their perceptions and encourage their willingness to treat people with disabilities.

Jocelyn earned her BA in Creative Writing/English from Emory University and her JD from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Dr. Amanda Kloo

Dr. Amanda Kloo, PhD is an educator, a mom, a wife, and a life-long student. She is a veteran teacher, interventionist, and developmental specialist with experience teaching individuals who have a wide range of abilities She is the Director of Inclusive Recreation at the National Inclusion Project, a North Carolina-based nonprofit providing businesses, community organizations, recreational programs, and schools the training, tools, and support needed to meaningfully include individuals with disabilities across all settings and activities.

She is a frequent presenter at professional conferences, a widely published author, and holds multiple consulting positions with research institutions, educational organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and universities committed to advancing inclusive work, school, and leisure experiences for individuals with disabilities.

Amanda is also a coach and adaptive athlete with cerebral palsy whose health, work, and life have been transformed by functional fitness training. To pay these blessings forward, she began Project Momentum Fitness to provide inclusive health and fitness training to children & adults with disabilities. Amanda believes that play, exercise, & activity are not only possible for everyone-- they are fundamental for everyone.

Tyler Penn

Tyler is an ACE certified Personal trainer with a B.S. in Exercise Science and over 10 years of industry experience working with a wide variety of clients. Tyler found his passion for working with adaptive athletes through his participation with the Men's US Paralympic Soccer team as an athlete with CP himself. He has enjoyed working with adaptive athletes ever since his competitive career has ended.