UAH welcomes Bob Lujano Paralympic medalist to campus

October is National Disability Awareness Month. The 2019 national theme is "The Right Talent, Right Now." The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is observing the month with a visit from Bob Lujano Paralympic medalist, in Wheelchair Rugby.

He will give a public talk on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 4:30 p.m. in the Wilson Hall Auditorium (900 Ben Graves Dr NW, Huntsville 35816) on the UAH campus. Lujano’s visit to campus is coordinated by Dr. David Kyle, Director of The Ability Sport Network at the UAH College of Education. The event is free and open to the public.

Lujano, a Birmingham, AL, native lost his arms below the elbow and legs above the knee, due to Meningococcemia, a rare form of meningitis. To support his physical and mental recovery, he played rugby and became a successful wheelchair athlete for more than 20 years.

Today, he is an international public speaker, on topics such as faith, disability, diversity, rehabilitation, competitive sports, physical fitness and the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle.

He works for The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) as an information specialist. NCHPAD is a public health practice and resource center on health promotion for people with disabilities.

Prior to NCHPAD, he spent 14 years as a recreation specialist for The University of Alabama at Birmingham/Lakeshore Foundation Research Collaborative, providing recreation opportunities for people with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions.

Lujano was a member of the Lakeshore Demolition wheelchair rugby team. The team earned five USQRA National Championships from 1998-2003. Lujano won a gold medal in the 1999 World Wheelchair Games, a silver medal in the 2002 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, and a bronze medal in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

He was featured in the Academy Award nominated film "Murderball," a documentary about athletes who are physically disabled who play wheelchair rugby. In addition, Lujano is the author of the 2014 book, No Arms, No Legs, No Problem.

He earned an undergraduate degree in Pre-Law at The University of Texas at Arlington, and a Masters of Science degree in Recreation Sports Management at The University of Tennessee. In April 2014, Lujano was elected President of the US Quad Rugby Association.

Each October, National Disability Awareness Month is observed with the express purpose of educating the public about disability employment issues and celebrating the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

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