Jonathan Young was a popular and outgoing student, active in his church, with a passion for wrestling. As a senior at Bethesda’s Walt Whitman High School, Jonathan was dreaming of a state championship and a successful college wrestling career. In December 1986, Jonathan competed in a holiday tournament. Attempting an escape from his opponent, he fell in a freak position. He fractured his 6th and 7th vertebrae and suffered immediate paralysis. Young was transported to NRH, a very new facility at the time and after two months he had regained the total use of his right side.

Despite his injury, Young attended Messiah College and eventually went on to pursue his Master’s degree and Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina and later graduated from Yale Law School. Young excelled throughout his education and during this time came back to NRH to work with Gerben DeJong to write the history of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Young was going through a difficult time in his life at this point and he credits DeJong with motivating him to move forward with his life. “The single most important thing I needed was a bridging confidence and that’s what he gave me,” said Young.

Following his work on the ADA history while at NRH, Young was appointed to the Clinton White House as the Associate Director in the Office of Public Liaison where he stayed until 2001. Young has gone on to make numerous speeches and presentations across the county. In addition, he has received many awards for his accomplishments and ability to overcome his disability.

When discussing his experience at NRH 25 years ago, Young explains that NRH is different than any other place because his focus was not on longevity but on the quality of life. “That’s the framework that makes [NRH] stand out, instead of ‘how can we fix you?’” says Young, a Gala Victory Award® recipient in 1987. Young is now the Chairman of the National Council on Disability (NCD) and Senior Council for Fox, Kiser law firm in Washington, D.C. He is happy with his life and continues to appreciate the time he spends with his wife and three children.