Bringing an energy and a story of resilience that is sure to inspire all attendees, X Games and Paralympic champion “Monster” Mike Schultz will highlight this year’s Advocacy Forum as the keynote speaker. You won’t want to miss it! The Advocacy Forum will be held April 16-19 in Washington, DC, and Mike will kick off this powerful event during Sunday’s Welcome Reception.
Turning what could have been the end of his career into the catalyst for some of his most momentous achievements, Mike has revolutionized adaptive action sports as CEO and founder of BioDapt. Competing with his innovative technology, Mike is a 10-time gold medalist in X Games Powersports (snowmobile, motocross, snowbike) and won gold and silver medals in snowboarding during the 2018 Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
In 2008, Mike suffered a severe knee injury during a professional snowmobile competition that resulted in an above-knee amputation of his left leg. At that point, he had a pivotal decision to make–he decided to let this setback bring out the best in him. Mike’s passion for designing led him to develop a cutting-edge prosthesis that would enable him to return to the sports he loved. He engineered a high-performance prosthetic knee (Moto Knee and Versa Foot), and within seven months he was competing at the ESPN X Games and winning a silver medal in adaptive motocross.
Mike founded BioDapt in 2010 after realizing the need for advancements in high-impact adaptive sports prostheses. BioDapt prostheses are used by many elite adaptive athletes, including many of Mike’s competitors in Pyeongchang.
Mike’s story of triumph and innovation has resonated with audiences around the country, including at TED Talks, universities, and prosthetic and motivational summits. From his own experience, Mike discusses resiliency after an injury, how to chase your goals, and how to perform at your best by embracing challenges.
He is also a husband, father, and the author of Driven to Ride.
If you have not registered yet, the Advocacy Forum is an incredible opportunity to hear from and be inspired by a world-class adaptive athlete. Register today with the advance registration rate through March 1! We look forward to seeing you this April!
To help offset the cost of attendance, the Amputee Coalition is pleased to offer the availability of $500 travel scholarships for eligible registrants. To apply, please follow the prompts in the registration form and share your “Why I Advocate” story. “Why I Advocate” essays can include details about your personal advocacy journey, a story of an injustice or access issue that highlights the need for change, or a description of why you are participating in the 2023 Advocacy Forum. Applications will be accepted through midnight on Monday, March 13. Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than noon on Friday, March 17.
Visit www.amputee-coalition.org for more details on ways to engage, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and join the conversation using #ACSpeakUp.
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