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Starla Hilliard-Barnes is a prominent disability advocate from Montana who’s been making her state a better place to live for others with disabilities since her injury. Ms. Wheelchair Montana 2014, a motivational speaker and a mother of 4 with twins, this passionate survivor isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
Starla’s journey into the world of paralysis has also included founding a nonprofit dedicated to help others with disabilities explore the world through outdoor adaptive adventures. A fighter, a dreamer and a survivor, this is the story of Starla Hilliard-Barnes.
Why She’s Fearless
Growing up in a small town in Montana, Starla loved gymnastics and in high school, she was a cheerleader. She was always physically active. And after high school, she went on to explore modeling and found success. But sadly, her whole world changed when she was 21 years old.
Hit by a truck while riding her motorcycle, Starla was a hit and run victim and was thrown from her motorcycle. She broke her back in multiple locations, punctured her lungs and injured several other organs. She was fortunate to survive, yet Starla left the scene with a an incomplete T4 injury, and thus began her life with paralysis.
After returning home, she decided to take the positive road, and soon Starla found herself attracting more than your standard inspirational “good for you” comments. She attracted the attention of Shannon Hilliard, a man who was destined to become her husband. They went on to have their first child, their daughter Elissiah.
But having a family and getting married weren’t the only goals Starla had for herself post-injury. After winning Ms. Wheelchair Montana, she co-founded the Moving Forward Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities go on rehabilitative adventures.
What’s Next?
Starla’s foundation does lot of great activities for people with disabilities in Montana, from sled hockey and adaptive kayaking to adaptive zip-lining, where participants were able to zip upwards of 40 miles an hour, making for quite the memorable experience.
A woman with a huge heart, Starla Hilliard-Barnes is one of those people who refuses to let bad win the day. With her smile and her dedication to helping others, the work she does continues to change the world.
ideas@spinalpedia.com
