Carlana Stone, author of the acclaimed book “Never Give In, Never Give Up”, was paralyzed in a car accident at age 17. In the blink of an eye, Carlana went from cheerleader and gymnast to paraplegic. Not adhering to the stigma and physical restraints of her injury, Carlana forged ahead.

Carlana has chosen to embrace her wheelchair as a force, rather than a hindrance. In stark contrast to the stereotypes placed on the physically disabled, since her accident Carlana has become a certified scuba diver, learned to pilot airplanes, and enjoys sky diving, sailing and skiing.

Using her “chair” as a “platform” for social change, Carlana has become a strong voice in support of stem cell research. “The possibilities are limitless,” Stone says. “Stem cell research will impact millions of lives. I’m committed to doing all I can to make this promise a reality.”

Carlana moved to Los Angeles to launch a career in talk shows, producing an array of daytime talk shows, such as Leeza,  Judge Judy,  and Ben Stein, just to name a few.  She then went on to produce and Senior Produce Prime Time Network Specials.  Currently, Carlana is the Senior Casting Producer for “Intervention” the award-winning documentary series on A & E.

Carlana is also a highly sought-after International Speaker; delivering keynotes in venues ranging from Britain’s illustrious House of Lords to being highlighted at FAWCO International’s annual convention in Berlin, Germany, to keynoting for one of America’s largest employers, Entertainment Partners, in Los Angeles.

Fueled by her own philosophy, “Pay no attention to boundaries,” in 2006, Carlana founded The Courage Community and is using her own experience in the face of adversity to support our veterans as they confront the brutal aftermath of war. Carlana is helping soldiers realize their true potential and achieve their dreams.  Carlana states:

In March, 2008, Carlana was chosen to become one of ten contestants on Oprah Winfrey’s Big Give, airing Sunday nights on ABC. This marked a critical day in history for Carlana, as she became the first paraplegic to appear on a national primetime network reality show. “I applaud Oprah and ABC for their willingness to step outside the box and cast me on the show. It’s an honor to be on an equal, level playing field with the other contestants, and have the onus focused on my ability, not my disability.”