Trisston Wright Burrows - Guest Blogger

Trisston Wright Burrows was raised in Prattville, Alabama. Shortly after her birth in 1975, Trisston was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, which affects her fine-motor skills and her ability to balance to walk. However, from the day she was born, the word "can't" has never been in her vocabulary. Trisston was the first student with a disability, in the history of the Autauga County School System, to be mainstreamed grades first through twelfth. At the age of 17, she graduated from Prattville High School with an Advanced Alabama High School Diploma with honors. After graduating from high school, Trisston attended Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). In 2000, she graduated from AUM at the top of her class in the School of Business and with honors -Summa Cum Laude and winning the Chancellor's Scholar Award. After graduation from AUM, Trisston directed her attention to seriously pursuing her love of painting and writing. Today, she has paintings in galleries throughout Alabama, including VSA Arts of Alabama located in Birmingham, Alabama. She also writes a column for The Tri-County Gazette called “Trisston’s Tidbits”. On October 2, 2004, Trisston was crowned “Ms. Wheelchair America/Alabama 2005”. This was a dream come true and gave her extensive opportunities to travel advocating, educating, and promoting the abilities of people with disabilities. Trisston currently serves on several boards and committees including the City of Birmingham’s Americans with Disabilities Committee, Alabama State Rehabilitation Council, and the State of Alabama Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP). This year she has the honor and privilege of serving as Chairperson of the SEAP. Another dream came true on May 24, 2008, when Trisston married the love of her life, Brian Burrows. Trisston and Brian reside in Hoover, Alabama. For additional information, please visit her website, www.trisstonwrightburrows.com .