Fostering Independence and Creating Strong Advocates – A Talk with Ciara Campbell

Event Series (See All)

Oct 04, 2025

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

A woman in sunglasses smiles while she sits in a wheelchair with a long corridor of brick columns extending behind her

Join the Radford University Carilion Student Occupational Therapy Association for “Fostering Independence and Creating Strong Advocates,” a talk with guest speaker Ciara Campbell.

Ciara will share her personal journey toward independence to show how clinicians and others can contribute to the enhancement of autonomy, independence, and goal-setting for adults with disabilities.

Key questions she’ll address include:

* how can clinicians support patients and families during this process?

* how does improving these skills help adults with disabilities create stronger health care systems?

This event is free and welcoming to all, though registration is highly encouraged.

Ciara Campbell has been active in the disability community for many years.

She has worked with the National Council on Disability and continues to present often at the University of Virginia and James Madison University.

She is currently on the Charlottesville Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee, the UVA Patient and Family Advisory Committee, and the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities Dental Policy Workgroup, as well as a staff member at Blue Ridge LEND.

By working on many advisory boards for Medicare and Medicaid reform, her goal is to improve systems and supports for youth and adults with special healthcare needs.

Ciara is also sponsored by the Challenged Athletes Foundation and in her spare time she enjoys many adaptive sports.