Dare to Define Your Life

Alyssa was born with Cerebral Palsy, but she doesn’t let her disability slow her down, instead, she uses it as a platform to advocate and educate. As a former patient of the Shriners Hospital for Children-Canada in Montreal, she has overcome her share of obstacles, has had many surgical procedures, and has shared her story of perseverance through her role as patient ambassador for the hospital. A former Miss Canada, Alyssa has travelled throughout Canada and the US sharing her story, spreading awareness, and advocating for people with disabilities. Alyssa is a disability advocate. She moved to the US from Canada more than 3 years ago to pursue a career in Nursing after she faced ablism and discrimination while trying to begin her nursing career in Canada. Becoming a nurse hasn’t been easy, but it was just another obstacle to overcome. Today, Alyssa is a registered nurse at a hospital in Las Vegas. She is a respected, valued part of the team. She is proof that with hard work, perseverance, and determination you can achieve anything. Never let others determine your worth. “A disability doesn’t define you; you define the disability.”