Shannon Renade Minnick was born and raised in Washington DC. As a young energetic mother Shannon moved to Maryland to start a family. Shortly after moving from DC to Maryland in 1991 at the age of 21, Shannon was in a car accident that dramatically changed her life. All though doctors told Shannon she had broken her neck, was paralyzed, and explained all the things she would most likely never do again. Shannon refused to allow her disability to be the focus of her life. For a short time, she felt uncertain, insecure, and like she had no control over her life. Then, by the GRACE of GOD, and with a supportive network of family and friends, she was able to take charge and turn her life around. Shannon began to challenge herself to get better and to become a role model for others who are living with disabilities. Here she is, 29 years later, striving to live life to the best of her abilities. Shannon is a mother of two fabulous young ladies, Akia 30 and Erika 22. After working hard to build a stable and satisfying life for her daughters and herself, Shannon decided it was time to actively reach out to her disabled community. It is her mission to help others, who still feel like they can’t achieve a fulfilling and active life with a disability. She strongly believes increasing the awareness and use of health and social services will improve the level of community participation, integration, and quality of life for the individual.
She earned a degree from Montgomery College, and became the spokesperson in an advertising campaign for the college and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Later she became the SCI Navigator at Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), has started a campaign advocating for physical exercise for disabled individuals and has stared in NRH How to Videos on You Tube Quad Can Cook. Shannon is also Ms. Wheelchair MD 2010 and the assistant coordinator of the Ms. Wheelchair MD organization, the coordinator for Ms. Wheelchair District of Columbia and hosts the United Spinal DC Chapter Support Group. While holding the as Ms. Wheelchair MD 2010 she founded and organized the Disabilities Awareness Experience to educate individuals with and without dishabilles, Cofounder Women on Wheels Support Group to empower women with disabilities and started an Annual Holiday Party for teens living with disabilities. Shannon has dedicated her life to advocating for the disability community. She is currently the Director of Independent Living Services at Independence Now, one of the of Maryland’s Centers for Independent Living. She serves on the Interagency Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Committee, Spinal Cord Injury Consortium Board and Governor’s Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay.
During Shannon spare time she enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, dancing, movies, planning events, but most of all helping others live to their fullest potential.