Throughout her life and professional career, Dawna Callahan has consistently been a trailblazer for people and athletes with disabilities. After incomplete paralysis at the age of three from transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that causes inflammation of the spinal cord, Dawna was the first student with a physical disability in her hometown to be mainstreamed into public school at the age of five.

Dawna has dedicated much of her professional career to advancing the adapted sport movement to create more access and opportunities for people with disabilities to experience sport. She is driven by the belief that sport has the power to change all aspects of a person’s life from physical and emotional health to employment opportunities and social integration. Her own life has been a testament of its positive impact.

She has been involved with adapted sport professionally for more than 20 years. In 2017, she founded ALL IN SPORT CONSULTING – one of only 77 organizations globally to be recognized as a Business Disability Expert and partner with The Valuable 500. She has worked with numerous nationally and internationally known clients including the U.S. Center for SafeSport, Augusta Sports Council, Endeavor Games Series, Lakeshore Foundation and The World Games Inclusion Initiative, USA Boxing, USA Para Powerlifting, and USRowing. Her career also includes positions with the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), the United States Olympic Committee & Paralympic Committee, Disabled Sports USA, and Adaptive Sports USA.

A competitive wheelchair racer, Dawna has completed numerous road races and marathons including four Boston Marathons. Dawna obtained her master’s degree in Recreation Management at San Jose State University while completing graduate studies in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at San Francisco State. She also received an Executive Certificate in Sport Philanthropy at George Washington University.

Most recently, Dawna was a recipient of the Sports Business Journal’s 2023 Game Changer Award – recognizing 50 outstanding women in sport business across North America. During the award ceremony, the emcee shared a bit of Dawna’s sport philosophy, “Disability doesn’t discriminate. Dawna believes including disability in sport conversations is a MUST. Including and welcoming the disability community isn’t just a feel-good effort, it will have a positive impact on your bottom line.”