Tricia Downing
After being hit by a car, Tricia Downing went from being a competitive cyclist to a paraplegic requiring a wheelchair for mobility. Now she is a dynamic disability advocate who is passionate about building communities, creating a sense of belonging, and empowering organizations to include disability in the diversity conversation.
TOPICS
- Motivation & Inspiration
- Leadership
- Disability Awareness
- Women’s Empowerment
- First Year Student/Orientation
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Athletics
KEYNOTES
- Redefining Able
- Resilience Through the Cycle of Hope
- Shine As You Are: Crafting Your Signature Strengths Statement Workshop
- The Disability User Experience: Designing for Dignity, Access and Belonging
Getting to know
Tricia Downing
After being hit by a car, Tricia Downing went from being a competitive cyclist to a paraplegic requiring a wheelchair for mobility. However, sixteen years after this pivotal moment, her unwavering resilience and fierce competitive spirit propelled her to remarkable achievements. She not only secured a spot on the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team but also made history as the first female paraplegic to conquer an Ironman triathlon.
She is the author of the book, Cycle of Hope—A Journey from Paralysis to Possibility and is now recognized as a pioneer in the sport of women’s paratriathlon as well as an advocate for disability awareness. Tricia believes we all have the power to create environments that are not disabling but enabling.
As a speaker, Tricia’s strength is authenticity. She speaks from the heart and uses her personal experiences to talk about resilience and belonging, diversity and hope. She balances heavy messages with moments of humor, reflection and an upbeat takeaway so her audiences can leave in a better mindset than when they came, and leave with lessons that resonate.
Tricia’s purpose is held in this short phrase: Each day I strive to build and strengthen diverse communities because I believe we all achieve more through authentic connection.
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
To help you promote your event with Tricia, CAMPUSPEAK has created promotional templates you can use. In this folder, you will find resources for social media, a promotional poster for printing, and press photos you can use for your event.
Link to Promotional Materials.
LOGISTICAL MATERIALS
Below you will find logistical resources for the day of your event with Tricia.
In-Person Event AV Needs (PDF)
Speaking Introduction (PDF)
KEYNOTES
Redefining Able
Tricia Downing was in the best shape of her life. An avid cyclist, Tricia traveled across the country for what amounted to eighteen races in twenty-three days. She returned from her adventure to a fresh start: a new job awaited her, and, determined to make the next summer the year she would make her mark on the world of cycling, she began a rigorous training strategy.
But Tricia Downing’s life took a detour. While training on her bicycle one sunny Colorado afternoon, Tricia collided with a car that turned directly in her path and instantly became paralyzed from the chest down. As she re-learned to do everything from sitting straight up to navigating through her house in a wheelchair to returning to work, her grueling recovery took her to the very core. Her inner strength helped her to not only learn how to live life as a paraplegic—a label that took time to grow accustomed to—but to have the courage to return to the competitive sport she loved and almost lost. Determined to live life on her terms, Tricia turned her misfortune into opportunity and is now a wheelchair athlete, competing regularly in events around the globe.
In her signature program, Redefining Able, Tricia Downing encourages students to look within to define what they are capable of as leaders. By reframing challenges as opportunities, students will learn the skills to build resilience and be inspired to overcome their obstacles. We each have the ability to define our life. How will you redefine able?
Learning Outcomes
As a result of attending the program, students will learn:
- how to identify opportunities to turn perceived obstacles into opportunities,
- how to apply the concept of reframing to personally challenging situations, and
- how to explain the importance of resilience-building.
Resilience Through the Cycle of Hope
Life is unpredictable. Have you ever been blindsided by a major change or roadblock in your personal or professional life? Had your heart set on a particular outcome, only to see it fall through your fingers? Felt overwhelmed and burned out?
It would be an ideal world if we could control when and where we take on challenges in our lives. But in the real world, challenges and change usually take us by surprise. Your reaction and ability to deal with these occurrences may be the difference between prospering or letting life get the best of you. How can you become more resilient in the face of adversity?
Let Tricia Downing take you on a journey of self-discovery as she shares the tactics she has learned through decades of athletic training and competition, as well as the skills she learned to rebound from her tragic and paralyzing accident.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of attending the program, students will learn:
- how to understand the importance of pro-actively building resilience,
- practical tips for dealing with adversity, and
- how To explain the different elements of building resilience
Shine As You Are: Crafting Your Signature Strengths Statement Workshop
This 60-minute interactive session is designed to help students/employees with disabilities visible and non-apparent—to confidently articulate their value at work. Participants will explore how to identify their strengths, shape clear and authentic messaging, and approach disclosure with clarity and self-trust.
Rooted in empowerment, equity, and self-awareness, this session encourages individuals to celebrate their identity without needing to justify their presence, while also building confidence in how they communicate their abilities, needs and goals.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of attending the program, students will:
- identify and articulate their signature strengths
- discuss the pros and cons of disclosing a disability
- identify when to disclose a disability
- build repeatable messaging to advocate for their strengths
- assess future career opportunities through the lens of their accommodations and needs
The Disability User Experience: Designing for Dignity, Access and Belonging
This 60- minute interactive session reframes disability inclusion through the lens of user experience. Using the original Disability User Experience (DUX) model created by Tricia Downing, this session helps participants understand how access, attitude, and anticipation shape the experiences of people with disabilities—and how businesses, organizations, and teams can take intentional steps toward more inclusive design.
Rooted in Tricia’s lived experience and practical strategies, the session highlights common oversights, language missteps, and design gaps while offering actionable ways to engage the disability community and build environments where people with disabilities feel respected, empowered, and welcomed.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of attending the program, students will:
- identify the difference between the medical and social models of disability
- identify the components of the DUX model: User Needs, Attitude & Etiquette, and Respect & Forethought
- recognize how everyday experiences impact the participation and sense of belonging of people with disabilities
- review respectful language and terms to use – and avoid – when talking about disability
- define tools for offering accommodations, engaging the disabled community, and designing with universal access in mind
