Mia Schaikewitz

Mia Schaikewitz, 33, was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. At age 15, she was a rising star on her high school swim team and training for a new season when suddenly one evening she found herself unable to move her legs. Within 12 hours, doctors discovered that an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) had ruptured in her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.

With rehabilitation, determination, and a positive attitude, Mia moved forward to pursue her life goals. She finished high school and then attended the University of Florida where she thrived academically as well as socially, becoming the first girl in a wheelchair there to rush and join a sorority. After graduating with a degree in Media Production, Mia moved to Los Angeles where she currently works at a graphic design and branding firm.

In addition to her successful career, Mia is a member of the Colours n’ Motion dance team and maximizes her athletic drive with participation in multiple adaptive sports. She is currently focused on returning to her former sport of competitive swimming.

Mia also spends time giving back to the community through her sponsorship by Colours Wheelchairs and donating to Wheels for Humanity, an organization which brings refurbished wheelchairs to people in developing countries.