Brooke Ellison

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Brooke Ellison
Born
Brooke Mackenzie Ellison

(1978-10-20)October 20, 1978
EducationHarvard University (BS, MPP)
Stony Brook University (PhD)
Political partyDemocratic
WebsiteOfficial website

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison (born October 20, 1978) is an American academic and disability advocate. She is known for being the first person with quadriplegia to graduate from Harvard University.

History

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison was born on October 20, 1978.[1] On September 4, 1990, at the age of 11, she was hit by a car while walking home from school, resulting in her being paralyzed from the neck down. Although her injuries left her completely dependent on other people, she graduated from Ward Melville High School in 1996 with high honors, and was accepted by Harvard. She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard with a bachelor of science in cognitive neuroscience in 2000, and a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government,[2] making her the first person with quadriplegia to graduate from Harvard.[3] In 2014 Rutgers University awarded Brooke Ellison an honorary doctorate in humane letters.[4] Ellison completed her Ph.D. in 2012 from Stony Brook University.[5]

In November 2015, Ellison teamed up with director James Siegel to create the winning documentary "Hope Deferred",[6] which aims to educate the general public about embryonic stem cell research.

Ellison was an advocate for accessible technology. She served as Vice President of Tech Access for United Spinal Association beginning in January 2023.[7]

Ellison is the author of two books.

The Brooke Ellison Story

The Brooke Ellison Story premiered in 2004, based on Ellison's memoir Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey, which she co-wrote with her mother in alternating chapters following her graduation from Harvard. The television film was directed by fellow quadriplegic Christopher Reeve. Brooke was portrayed by Vanessa Marano as a child and Lacey Chabert as a teenager. The film aired on the A&E network on October 25, 2004, just a few weeks after Reeve's death.[2][8]

Candidate for State Senate

Ellison ran for New York State Senate as a Democrat in 2006[9] but was defeated by the Republican incumbent, John Flanagan.[2] One of Ellison's principal issues was her support for embryonic stem cell research.[2] She served on the advisory board of the Genetics Policy Institute.[10]

Ellison was a motivational speaker.[11]

Further reading

  • Ellison, Brooke and Jean Ellison Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey (Hyperion Press, New York 2012). ISBN 0-7868-6770-1.

References

  1. ^ "Brooke Ellison Biography". Biography.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  2. ^ a b c d "One Woman's Fight for Human Lives: An Interview with Brooke Ellison". AmericanProgress.org. Center for American Progress. Retrieved 9 May 2007.
  3. ^ Steinberg, Jacques (17 May 2000). "QUADRIPLEGIC ABOUT TO BECOME GRAD OF HARVARD". OrlandoSentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel.
  4. ^ "Stony Brook University Bioethics Department". Archived from the original on 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  5. ^ Brookeellison.com
  6. ^ "Boston Film Festival Winners". Archived from the original on 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (25 October 2004). "Getting to Harvard, With Mom and a Wheelchair". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2004.
  9. ^ Lambert, Bruce (20 October 2006). "Paralyzed, 28, and Aiming for the State Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2006.
  10. ^ "Genetics Policy Institute : Strategic Advisory Board". GenPol.org. Regenerative Medicine Foundation. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  11. ^ Jones, Bart. "Pioneering quadriplegic encourages students to overcome obstacles". Newsday.com. Newsday. Retrieved 19 August 2018.

External links


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