Jesse was born over 40 years ago with a physical disability called Arthrogryposis, which severely constricts the movements of joints and muscles. Although he has full feeling, he has no use of his upper or lower extremities except for his head and neck. He grew up in Virginia Beach with his family and, since 2017, has lived independently in an apartment in Norfolk, Virginia, with DD Waiver services. He has an associate degree from Blue Ridge Community College and is an advocate both statewide and locally for people with disabilities – including as a past board member for The Arc of Virginia, as a member of a state self-advocacy alliance called “A Life Like Yours,” and as a member of a local advocacy group, Our Voices. Over the years, he has worked alongside fellow self-advocates on many issues, with some important successes including increasing Medicaid waiver slots and raising the reimbursement rates for providers of services. His aim is to fight for what is right.