The back story: I was born Tonell Jenkins in the summer of August 1980. I had a normal childhood. I was nerdy, adventurous, jokey & full of life which carried over into my adulthood. On May 24th, 1999 (18 y/o) I fractured my neck in a car accident (C4). Then December 28th, 2002 (22 y/o), I was involved in another car accident of which I sustained a repeated neck fracture, but this time I was rendered a C 4-7 quadriplegic, and was left paralyzed from the neck down with only speaking abilities. Since then I’ve experienced a house fire (lost everything January 2009), accidentally drove off a wheelchair lift 4ft in the air, fracturing my forehead and breaking both legs in two places (tibia & fibula April 2013). Hit by a car in my wheelchair, in the apartment complex parking lot where I reside, and bruised my ribs & had damages to wheelchair (August 2020) Through it all, I still remain positive and kept pressing forward.

Nowadays: With my witty, optimistic personality and burning passion for helping others, I’ve been revamped The ABLER. Striving to make the lives of everyone I encounter much happier, especially disabled individuals. I will do this by sharing personal, professional and social content that will hopefully make you more informed while providing a little help and support that everyone deserves.

Community achievements since becoming quadriplegic:  Notary Public, on the Advisory Committee with the South Carolina Disability Employment Coalition, on the Advocacy Committee, as well as the Leader for the Midlands support group with the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association.

So if you think I can be of assistance to you, send a message (here). In the meantime check out the Directory and Blog for helpful resources. Also, unite with other individuals like yourself in the Facebook  group.