Italian American Heritage & Culture Month: The Advocacy and Accomplishments of Dominique Sessa

Dominique Sessa, known for her powerful digital platform “The Girl in the Pink Wheelchair,” is a dedicated and effective advocate whose work moves far beyond feel-good narratives to address the systemic barriers faced by people with disabilities. Her impact is most clearly seen in her legislative and community-based accomplishments, demonstrating a focused commitment to accessibility, technology, and inclusion.

A Voice for the Eastern Shore and Beyond

Sessa has rapidly established herself as a significant voice in disability policy within Maryland. Her achievements include:

• Governor-Appointed Commissioner: She serves on the Maryland Commission on Disabilities, making her one of the youngest members to serve and the only representative from the rural Eastern Shore. This position ensures that the unique challenges faced by disabled Marylanders in rural settings have representation at the state level.
• Chairwoman of the Maryland Assistive Technology Loan Program Board: As a full-time wheelchair user who relies on Assistive Technology (AT), Sessa advocates for the necessity of funding for these programs. Her platform, “Disability Shouldn’t Have a Price Tag,” directly tackles the financial barriers that prevent disabled people from achieving independence and full community participation through technology like adapted vehicles and home modifications. She has also testified on Capitol Hill regarding the importance of AT funding.
• Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2024: Winning this title allowed her to amplify her advocacy platform across the state, focusing on policy and removing both architectural and attitudinal barriers.

Championing Community

Sessa’s advocacy work is further defined by her efforts to create accessible spaces and community resources, particularly for marginalized groups.

• “The Girl in the Pink Wheelchair” Platform: Launched when she was 17, this project provides a much-needed outlet for women and young girls with disabilities to connect and share their stories, fostering a sense of community and visibility.
• Italian American Disability Advocacy: Acknowledging her heritage, Sessa founded the Italian American Disability Alliance and the Italo American Imagery digital archive. These projects specifically focus on empowering disabled Italians and Italian Americans to engage with their culture and advocate together, as well as addressing accessibility within preservation work.
• Local Leadership: Her commitment to her immediate community is evident through her service as a Kindness Commissioner for Kind SBY and her work on local boards like the Bay Area Independent Living Center and the Salisbury Disability Advisory Committee.

Dominique Sessa’s true accomplishment lies in her strategic approach to activism. She uses her personal experience as data that informs her appointments to key state boards, her platform on eliminating financial barriers to AT, and her tireless effort to ensure that the disabled community, including those in rural areas, has an active and meaningful seat at the policymaking table. She is a dedicated leader committed to systemic change.