‘I am truly doing all the things I never thought I could do — and you can, too.’

Kenneth Kunken, Rockville Centre

“In 1970, as a typical college student at Cornell University, I had dreams of a fulfilling life. One night while at a cabin with my football teammates, I attempted to cook without knowledge of a pilot light. This led to a gas explosion, miraculously leaving me unharmed.

“I remember lying in bed that night thinking how lucky I was. I remember thinking, ‘If I can survive an explosion like that without being injured, I can survive anything. Nothing can happen to me. I must be invincible!’ However, my luck soon turned when the next day, I broke my neck while playing football at Cornell University, leaving me paralyzed.

“My future became uncertain, shattering my hopes and dreams. Almost everybody was giving me very little hope for ever leading a useful, productive or rewarding, life but I did not let them stop me.

“I went back to Cornell to complete my engineering degree and became the first quadriplegic to graduate from Cornell. In 2002, I met my wife, Anna. It was love at first sight. I never thought I could be a father, but we looked into vitro fertilization. We pushed the envelope and defied the odds; we received the news that we were having triplets!

“After earning two master’s degrees and a JD [juris doctor], I became an assistant district attorney for Nassau County, prosecuting more than 50 felony jury trials over a 40-year span. Prior to attending law school at Hofstra, I worked as a certified rehabilitation counselor for individuals with severe disabilities.

My passion for advocacy led me to become a motivational speaker and champion for legislation and accommodations that empower disabled individuals to reach their full potential.

“My passion for advocacy led me to become a motivational speaker and champion for legislation and accommodations that empower disabled individuals to reach their full potential.

“Recently, I authored my own memoir entitled ‘I Dream of Things that Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story.’ I am truly doing all the things I never thought I could do — and you can, too.”

Interviewed by Starr Fuentes

‘I take pride in who I am today, the positive impact I make and my ability to overcome my past.’

Susan Perna, Farmingdale

“Growing up, I experienced a history of child abuse in my family. I knew that I didn’t want to repeat the same cycle and become like my mother. Instead, I aspired to be a loving and supportive parent, providing my future children with the confidence and courage they need to succeed.

“My desire to break free from my family’s past and to be different motivated me to create a better life for my children. Today, my children are my everything. They inspire me to be the best mother I can be.

“My passion for giving to them the best life possible also led me to get involved with charity work. What started as a fun Facebook group called Dine-LI [that I] I co-founded became a platform to support local restaurants and food-based businesses during the pandemic and quickly evolved into something much bigger. It became a way to give back to the community and raise awareness for important causes.

It became a way to give back to the community and raise awareness for important causes.

“We organized an annual small business market and craft fair, raising an impressive $80,000 over four years, which we donated to organizations like first responders, Last Hope Animal Rescue, Fires & Drums, Beyond the Badge and more. Our fundraiser in partnership with lipizzastrong.com raised $102,000 for Farmingdale High School’s marching band.

“I have a passion for giving back to my community, which is why I spent 19 years with the Junior League of Farmingdale. During that time, we were able to raise thousands of dollars for the Farmingdale School District. I also enjoy creating baskets filled with Mary Kay goodies to donate at charity events. My goal is to empower women, make them feel important and, most importantly, loved. I take pride in who I am today, the positive impact I make and my ability to overcome my past.”

Interviewed by Starr Fuentes

‘Instead of shying away from things that were difficult, I leaned into the other ways that my brain overcompensated.’

Jennifer Salta, Huntington

“I moved here in the early ’90s, and I joined an inclusion class. Inclusion classes are when they take kids from special ed and mainstream them with the other kids.

“At the time, I was just diagnosed with an undisclosed learning disability. It’s an audio-processing disorder. My life as a young adult was really difficult in elementary school as far as connecting with people, making friends, behaviorally and also academically, because I was really struggling and failing. But being in the inclusion class, my personal experience was that it was really helpful.

“I had my IEP [individualized education program], and I got the help I needed, such as extended time on testing and using headphones to have directions read to me, and I was eventually mainstreamed into a regular class.

I am now a jeweler, so I have a trade, and I do repairs and teach classes and run my own business.

“In high school, I won an award for leaving special ed. Then I went on to college at SUNY Purchase and had my IEP follow me to college and graduated in the top of my class. I was in design technology, which is a technical art degree; it’s like a trade school, almost.

“Something that I think that is important with kids of different neuro types is that — and my mom always stressed this because she was a big advocate for me — you don’t have to go into a normal career path. And I didn’t.

“I am now a jeweler, so I have a trade, and I do repairs and teach classes and run my own business. That might seem like it would be hard for someone who, like, struggles with basic organization and spelling, but it’s given me the flexibility to create my life and make it work for me.

“Instead of shying away from things that were difficult, I leaned into the other ways that my brain overcompensated. I’ve created this life for myself that is outside of what the normal expectations are, and that was all because of the support that I had gotten in school. I may have been in a different situation a few years before they had these types of programs.

“When you have children who are autistic or have ADHD or even just behavioral issues, you don’t realize what the future holds and that we grow up. I am just here to express what’s on the other side of it.”

Interviewed by Hannah Fusaro

‘During my journey, I realized that very little was being done to accommodate the autistic students.’

Stella Spanakos, Port Washington

“I retired from teaching social studies in 1992 to care for my son, Nicholas, who is profoundly affected by autism. During my journey, I realized that very little was being done to accommodate the autistic students. I decided to dedicate my time to the Manhasset Parents Association Special Education [organization] in my school district.

“As president, we helped create a district-wide life skills program that remains today. As we were preparing Nicholas’ transition from high school, I became very concerned that the state was not prepared for the tsunami of individuals with autism transitioning to adult services. I visited day habilitation centers that offered little opportunity for growth and community interaction. I knew they were inappropriate for my son. My husband and I had frequent conversations about our son’s future.

I would like to see our model reproduced in other communities. I love seeing the smiling faces of these hardworking individuals, their growth and the peer connections.

“In 2010, God decided to intervene, and my husband died suddenly. What was I going to do? I believed there were only two paths: Either you see the tragedy as an opportunity to create something that would make the world a better place or allow self-pity to consume me. I decided to build something that would serve not only my son, but the many deserving and capable autistic individuals in our communities.

“In October of 2011, The Nicholas Center and Spectrum Designs opened its doors in Port Washington. The center is a human service agency creating innovative programs and services that allow autistic individuals to learn, live and work in the community. Individuals learn critical life skills, vocational training, engage in community projects and improve their social and communication skills.

“Four years ago, a group of parents from Westchester asked what it would take to open The Nicholas Center and Spectrum Designs in their community. They wanted the same program for their autistic adult children. In 2020, we expanded services to our second location in Pleasantville, New York.

“I would like to see our model reproduced in other communities. I love seeing the smiling faces of these hardworking individuals, their growth and the peer connections. I am grateful for all the families and friends that supported me along this journey!”

Interviewed by Saul Schachter

‘A mastectomy is not a free boob job. It is an amputation.’

Amy Safaty, Hauppauge

“I call myself a breast cancer previvor, someone who has a genetic predisposition to cancer. After my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, my sisters and I underwent genetic testing. We were all positive for the BRCA2 mutation. The gene normally functions to fight cancer cells in the body, but the mutation increases the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

“I was completely shocked. My mother was negative for the mutation, so I assumed I would be, too. I was faced with impossible decisions: Either remove my breasts or undergo an MRI and mammogram every six months. At first, I said there’s no way I’m going to chop off my breasts. But there’s something called ‘scanxiety,’ having to go through those scans every six months. And it was expensive; I got a bill for over $2,000 for one MRI. Then a classmate in pharmacy school was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she gave me the push I needed to stop fooling around.

Over time, I turned my pain into power.

“In 2020, at 29 years old, I had a prophylactic double mastectomy, the first of five surgeries to remove and reconstruct my breasts. A mastectomy is NOT a free boob job. It is an amputation. It is raw, emotional, painful and heartbreaking. At the same time, I went through two rounds of cryopreservation so I could keep my fertility. I didn’t know where my life was going, but I wanted to have a family. Genetic testing is controversial, but there is a test that can detect the mutation, and if I do have the option of removing that mutation from my family tree, why wouldn’t I?

“Over time, I turned my pain into power. I began to make decisions to impact my future and turn my experience into a way to empower and educate others. I’ve partnered with amazing organizations such as The Breasties, The Previvor and BRCAStrong to help advocate for the breast cancer community. In October, everything is pink, pink, pink, but breast cancer is year-round. One of my biggest platforms is advocating for people to do a breast self-exam once a month, every month, on the first of the month. It’s part of a campaign called ‘Feel it on the first.’ If you feel something, say something. Early detection saves lives.”

Interviewed by Barbara Schuler

‘I feel like there’s so many life-changing moments along the way, but I am being empowered by my friends.’

Christine Brennen-Chanowsky, Bohemia

“I’m an elementary school teacher and will be retiring in 2025. I started making candles during the pandemic. At first, it was just a crafty hobby. Then my teacher friends started asking me to make candles for them. I started making it into a little bit of a business. But then in 2021, I had to have breast surgery, and I was really nervous. I started meditating just to calm myself from the anxiety of what was to come. I started putting affirmations onto the lids of the candles that I made at first just for myself, with words like ‘self-care.’ Then people started asking me for those for people they cared about, and that launched me forward just to get through that time. Stores started asking for them, and at one point I was in 11 stores where my candles with affirmations were sold. I would include crystals, and it was the whole candle-making process that was therapeutic for me. I guess it just started to touch other people as well.

I was happy being a teacher and with my life. But I saw how my candles helped soothe other people.

“My teacher friends were a huge part of this whole thing, pushing me forward to take it further and open a business. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their help because they were the ones that were behind me just rallying me. At no point before that did I ever feel like I wanted to open this business or be a small-business owner. I was happy being a teacher and with my life. But I saw how my candles helped soothe other people. I got advice from a woman in Texas who saw me on Facebook, who gave me ideas for opening a candle bar. She kept encouraging me and listed all the things that I would need to do, and she would be there to help me.

“My story might have started because of health challenges, but it’s turned into a woman’s empowerment story because that woman and my friends empowered me to give me the courage to do it and helped me through so many steps along the way. I was on my way to retirement, but all of a sudden I’ve taken on this new endeavor, and I opened Long Island’s first candle bar store Memorial Day weekend. I feel like there’s so many life-changing moments along the way, but I am being empowered by my friends. I have this tribe of women behind me, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

Interviewed by Liza Burby

‘I’ve always had a passion for DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], even before I knew the term.’

April Francis, Massapequa

“I’m proud to call myself a Caribbean-American, with familial roots stretching back to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Jamaica. My father, a retired chef who owned a restaurant, introduced me to mouth-watering Caribbean delicacies like johnnycakes, cornmeal porridge and jerk chicken.

“Education was another fundamental aspect of my upbringing, and my family migrated to the United States for better opportunities. This inspired me and my siblings to pursue higher education, and thanks to my family’s support, I hold a bachelor of arts, master of arts, postgraduate certificate of advanced studies in educational leadership, and [am] currently pursuing a doctorate in education policy at Hofstra University.

“As an educator, I’ve always had a passion for DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], even before I knew the term. Presently, I am the director of DEI at Eastern Suffolk BOCES and an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Professional Development. I aim to ensure students feel valued in their school communities, with access, support and opportunities to excel equitably.

When we build schools that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, we remove barriers, and every student feels a sense of belonging.

“As the director of DEI, I’m thrilled to partner with fellow educators to implement this framework and positively impact future generations. Of course, change doesn’t happen overnight, as disability activist Judith Heumann so eloquently put it. It takes years of strategizing, sharing and pulling all the levers we can, but suddenly, something tips.

“Some days, I wish we could change things overnight, but I know that creating access for the most vulnerable and marginalized students paves the way for a more inclusive environment where every child can thrive, just like the curb-cut effect concept.

“When we build schools that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, we remove barriers, and every student feels a sense of belonging. I just want to give all students opportunities to succeed and the same support and love my family gave to me after traveling here to America.”

Interviewed by Starr Fuentes

‘My advice to others? Go out after work and explore on your bike.’

Dan Bailey, Glen Cove

“In the past five years, I’ve biked over 100,000 miles. Cycling is great for the mind, body and soul and gives you an avenue in which to stay fit while enjoying the outdoors. Lance Armstrong was my inspiration. After watching him dominate the Tour de France I decided in 2005, to bike-ride to work.

“On weekdays, I wake up at 1:30 a.m. [after going to sleep at 7 p.m.], eat half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, collect my water bottles and GU energy gels, and I’m out the door by 2:30 a.m. I bike-ride 26 miles from my home in Glen Cove to New Hyde Park, where I work from 4:45 a.m to 1:30 p.m. as a sanitation driver. On Tuesday and Thursdays, I do an additional 50 miles — and get only three hours of sleep. And on Saturday and Sundays, I do anywhere from 62 to 110 miles with a group called the Triangle Cyclists. When I arrive at my job, I’m loaded with energy and have a hard time sitting still.

Today, at 47, I weigh 138 pounds with 5 percent body fat, and 110/70 blood pressure. I feel great and hope others can get on the bike.

“At the end of my shift, I change from my work clothes back into my bike clothes and take a longer ride home: 48 miles! I go to bed at night thinking about riding and wake up thinking about riding, and that’s all the motivation I need. In 2007, I started riding with the Triangle Cyclists, eventually averaging 500 miles per week. They are an amazing group of men and women, always motivating one another. One special friend, Mike Bergman, who, sadly, died from a heart attack, called me ‘The Bunny’ after the Energizer Bunny because of my endless energy.

“Today, at 47, I weigh 138 pounds with 5 percent body fat, and 110/70 blood pressure. I feel great and hope others can get on the bike. Cycling is clean. There are no toxic fumes coming off of your bicycle like there are from a big diesel tractor trailer. I wish we could live more like the Europeans where bicycles play a much larger role in their lives. This would be beneficial in combating high blood pressure and our high rates of obesity as well as giving people a much higher sense of self-worth.

“My advice to others? Go out after work and explore on your bike. Absorb all that vitamin D from the sun. Let the freedom of two wheels take you places four wheels never could. You’ll then discover what living truly is!”

Interviewed by Saul Schachter

‘I see teaching as more of a long-term thing. It is a hard job, but it’s worth it as long as you love it.’

Arielle Francois, Freeport

“When I started college, I was a bio major, but I didn’t enjoy it very much. I struggled a lot, and it made it hard for me to want to be in school because I felt very defeated. I feel like a lot of STEM programs in college are very cutthroat, and it wasn’t really what I wanted to do — like I’m only doing it for family. Being Caribbean, there is a certain expectation to set an example in school. Especially me being the oldest of my siblings, I had to set that example.

“Then sophomore year, I was like, I’m gonna do what I want to do. I may not have the most lavish life, but I’m do something that I enjoy, would be good at and would give me a purpose. So, the rest of college, I majored in adolescent education with a concentration in mathematics. I scrambled to get all those credits in, as I was about a year behind, but I graduated on time.

“It is my first year teaching. It was an eye-opening experience. In undergrad, I knew the logistics of teaching, but actually being in the classroom is a different experience, especially fresh out of college. There are so many things on the job that you just don’t know until it happens. The first marking period was hard adjusting from student life to working adult. I was 21 when I started the job. Being the youngest person at my job, finding peers and people I could talk to without feeling like the kid at work, was hard. But quickly that passed, and everyone took me under.

Being Caribbean, there is a certain expectation to set an example in school.

“I see teaching as more of a long-term thing. It is a hard job, but it’s worth it as long as you love it. There needs to be more young teachers. It’s hard for kids to relate to someone teaching them when they don’t get where they’re coming from or how they feel. I would want to be there for kids to do that. I could see myself doing this for at least the next 10 years, if not more.

“Eventually, I might work in administration or take more of a leadership role in a school or a district. I’m starting my masters part time in the fall. I’ll potentially get a PhD and be a higher education professor. The possibilities are endless. I’m not a hundred percent sure what I want, but I know it’s going to have something to do with education and teaching.”

Interviewed by Victoria Bell

‘A lot of racers start as early as age 5, so I still feel like I’m catching up to them.’

Justin Dittrich, West Babylon

“My family was into kart racing before I was even born. My older half-brother raced at Riverhead Raceway. He’s 17 years older than me, and I grew up watching him as a toddler. My mom and sister also dabbled in kart racing; there’s even a photo of me at age 1 sleeping in my mom’s go-kart. I had an early start, but there was a point as an early teen [when] my interest in racing had faded. Eventually it came back to me through video games and online socializing, and then it was at a racing club event I attended with my brother when I was 16 that got me back behind the wheel and to the track. I had tagged along, and when I got there, there was a need for people to work on the track. I spent the whole day working, and then when they asked me to come back for the next event, I was like, ‘Sure.’

“By the end of that year, I had started to travel as a track worker, working and officiating at regional championships across the Northeast. As for driving, I didn’t get back behind the wheel full time until I was 20; that was because I met great people at the track who watched me and saw my potential. One who definitely made me the caliber of racer I am today is Pete Miletto, a former professional wrestler and successful businessman who helped fund my racing, which I couldn’t have afforded to do on my own back then. He just said, ‘Don’t worry, I got it.’ He took a chance on me, just based on my work ethic at the track, and fully funded me for three years.

“A lot of racers start as early as age 5, so I still feel like I’m catching up to them, like when I’m racing against high schoolers who have already learned skills I’ve yet to pick up on. But as another mentor of mine says, we’re always the master of our own destinies, even on the racetrack, that ‘you’re holding the wheel, you’ve got to steer it.’ That mentor, Tim Hannen, helped guide me, teach me values related to sportsmanship and helped me learn what to look for while officiating. He also helped me stay in the driver’s seat and to see how that strengthens my officiating. One thing helps the other; when I’m driving, it helps me guess what the judges are looking at while I’m driving, and even what I can get away with.”

I want to enjoy the journey as much as I can, and so far I’ve enjoyed every mile of it.

“Back in 2021, I came up with a new goal, to race in all 50 states. I was at a point where I just really wanted to figure out what to do with my life, and to give myself something to work toward. I had been finding myself officiating more and driving less, and I wanted, quite literally, to find a way to keep myself in the driver’s seat. I also wanted to see new places, and a friend of mine was doing a 50-25 challenge, to see all 50 states before age 25. I was like, ‘That’s cool, I want to do something like that, but how can I also up that?’ I thought, ‘I love racing, so why don’t I just go and do what I already do?’ So far, I have raced in 28 states.

“The goal of racing all 50 is also about me keeping my ear as close to the ground as I can. Whether it’s learning what’s new about engines, strategies in racing, I hope it will also make me a better official as I can see other people’s antics while I drive, which I can then watch for when officiating or include when I’m driving. Also, tracks across the country mostly follow similar rules, but they might not be enforced the same way, and all officials may have different interpretations of the rules. Judgment calls may fall differently. This is part of it; there are different flavors in racing in different places. Doing this whole journey as much as I already have over several years, it’s helping me stick to the black and white while reducing the grey. This will hopefully make people feel confident in my officiating, with the advantage of being a driver. There’s a balance, and I’m seeking it. I still do track work, but I split my time now evenly with racing.

“I still live on Long Island, but Fridays through Sundays, I’m usually working at racetracks, officiating or helping in other ways, on-site at out-of-state events. At 5 p.m. on Fridays after working my office job, I head to Kennedy Airport, work events, and then I’m back by Sunday night. I don’t have a deadline in mind to finish my racing in all 50 states, as I don’t want to rush through it. I want to enjoy it. As much as it’s about going to all these tracks and honing my craft, I want to enjoy the journey as much as I can, and so far I’ve enjoyed every mile of it.”

Interviewed by Ian J. Stark