Josh Basile is a C4-5 quadriplegic, disability rights advocate, attorney, and passionate mentor who has dedicated his life to empowering others within the disability community. After a spinal cord injury at 18 left him paralyzed from the shoulders down, Josh transformed personal tragedy into purpose, founding the nonprofit Determined2Heal Foundation just months after his injury. He later launched SPINALpedia.com, a first-of-its-kind video mentoring platform featuring over 38,000 videos that showcase how people with paralysis adapt, thrive, and reclaim independence. Through these platforms, Josh has personally mentored thousands of families and become a national voice for hope, innovation, and resilience.
Josh earned his law degree from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, graduating magna cum laude with a deep focus on disability rights. He went on to build a respected legal career at Jack H. Olender & Associates in Washington, D.C., where he spent over a decade advocating for victims of catastrophic injury and medical malpractice. Now, Josh is entering an exciting new chapter as a partner at The Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm, working side-by-side with Kelley Brooks Simoneaux to champion justice for the spinal cord injury community across the country. This transition marks more than a career move—it’s a powerful alignment of lived experience, legal expertise, and shared purpose. Together, Josh and Kelley are not only fighting for their clients in the courtroom, but transforming lives, empowering voices, and driving systemic change from the inside out.
As a workshop speaker alongside Kelley, Josh brings both legal expertise and lived experience to the conversation about becoming your own best advocate. From navigating ADA compliance to fighting back against airline wheelchair damage, Josh equips attendees with the tools, strategies, and real-world examples they need to demand better and create lasting change. But at his core, Josh is a devoted partner and father whose drive to make the world more inclusive is rooted in love—for his family, his community, and the future generations of disability leaders he continues to inspire.
Learn more at:
https://www.determined2heal.org
https://www.instagram.com/SPINALpedia
