In this extended episode of This Ability Podcast, we sit down with Justina Plowden, Miss Wheelchair Louisiana and founder of We Matter, a support and advocacy group for individuals with disabilities across the Acadiana region. Justina shares her journey as a powerful advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and representation. From her experience competing in the Miss Wheelchair America pageant to leading regional conversations around disability rights, Justina speaks candidly about the challenges she’s faced, the community she’s built, and her mission to uplift others through visibility and action.
As Miss Wheelchair Louisiana and founder of We Matter, Justina is a true SCI warrior whose work embodies strength, advocacy, and inclusion. In honor of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness, this episode is especially meaningful.
She shares her powerful journey as an advocate for accessibility, representation, and community empowerment across Acadiana and beyond. This episode also includes inspiring excerpts from two other guests:
Sam Primeaux — who shares how his life was transformed after a motorcycle accident at 17 and how he continues to push forward with grit, faith, and determination.
Katie Haynes — who made history as the first person to compete in the Miss United States Agriculture pageant in a wheelchair, and who spreads hope through her nonprofit
Together, these stories highlight resilience, leadership, and the power of representation in the disability community.
Through We Matter, Justina works to unite individuals across all parishes in Louisiana, focusing on advocacy, peer support, education, and outreach. In this conversation, she reflects on the importance of community empowerment, her commitment to changing perceptions, and how her lived experience fuels her work. Whether you're a caregiver, advocate, or part of the disability community, Justina’s voice is a meaningful reminder that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued.
Thanks for listening to This Ability Podcast. If you are enjoying our podcast, be sure to like us on Facebook at This Ability Podcast page and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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