“My disability is such a gift,” Kimmy Mullis would say with a smile on her face. 

After engagements with elementary students, middle and high schoolers, and adults – event coordinators note the way she captivates the audience. Curiosity is sparked as she rolls onto the stage in a power wheelchair, prepared to speak on what it means to know you belong in this world, be loved by those around you, and watch those two truths change your life.

Kimmy Mullis was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a condition that weakens muscles and has prevented her from ever walking or standing. This is what everyone notices at first– her challenges feel easily seen. As Kimmy speaks, she’ll share about what lies beneath the surface: stories about having an estranged and addicted biological father, navigating depression, experiencing her parents' separation, enduring serious injuries, and watching friendships change through heartbreak and hardship. In the midst of these battles– some seen, some hidden, Kimmy has gone on road trips, skied down mountains, and hiked 100km of the Camino pilgrimage. Perhaps the greatest adventure of all, she has learned how to lean on her friends, and trust that they care.

Kimmy's story is deeply personal, but her message reaches beyond her own experiences. After earning her Bachelor's degree in Social Work, she combines lived experience with research on adolescent development, belonging, resilience, and the powerful role relationships play in shaping young people's lives.

Since watching her biological dad and best friend fall into the trap of substance use, Kimmy uses her gift of speaking to end the cycle of addiction. As the founder of Fight The Good Fight, her mission is to bridge the gap between adolescent substance use and support systems in schools. She believes drug prevention goes deeper than, “just say no,” and must begin with students feeling seen, heard, and believed in.