Kenneth Ryno has lived 40 of his 58 years using a wheelchair. He was diagnosed with Incomplete quadriplegia after a motorcycle accident and his dream of becoming a Navy Seal was altered.
Ken’s Spinal cord Injury is an undeniable part of him but it has not stopped him from living a full adventurous life. He was back to work within a year after his injury working at US Bronze Powders then moved onto a position at M&M Mars until transitioning to a position as a Word Processor at Hunterdon Developmental Center until 1999. After retiring from his State Job Ken used his Ticket to Work Program to go back to school for Medical Office Assistant. Passed with high honor’s and went to work for Lehigh Valley Health Network as an Administrative Partner until failed Back surgeries ended that path.
Ken has a real love for the Outdoors and adaptive sports to this day. Hand-cycling, Kayaking, sit water skiing, Lehigh Valley Freewheelers and N.J. Blue Devils W/C basketball teams (retired), Para-curling, fishing, swimming, camping and so on. Ken always had to make do with equipment to be adapted to whatever he enjoyed doing.
This has all changed now as he has become the Accessibility Advocate and Adaptive Product Specialist for BoardSafe Docks. Federal, State and County Parks have come to us for advice on Accessibility to the water. Wherever there is outdoor Recreation Ken also assists LVCIL Outdoor Recreation task force identify areas of need for Access for all.
Being Chairman for Good Shepherd Rehabilitation SCI Support Group led him to start networking and that is when Ken met Joe Salva, President of IAM. IAM offers is all about inspiring persons of all abilities to look past the obstacles in life, be positive, find the resources and alternatives to experience life completely. Ken was honored when asked to join the IAM Board in 2017.