Special Olympics Athlete & Disability Advocate Honored by New York Alliance as She Fights for Equality in Public Transportation

Stephanie Speaker, of Depew, Receives 2025 Community Advocacy Award

Bolton Landing, NY – Special Olympics New York Athlete Stephnie Speaker, 54, of Depew, recently received the 2025 Community Advocacy Award, which recognizes “individuals who make incredible contributions in the disability and human service community through their time, actions, talents and dedication.”

The Award is presented by New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (NY Alliance), a statewide organization that supports individuals with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities and advocates to ensure them equal rights and opportunities in society.

“The NY Alliance is honored to recognize the excellence Stephanie Speaker has brought to her work advocating for positive changes that benefit individuals with disabilities throughout the state,” said Michael Seereiter, President and COO of New York Alliance.

“In addition to being a champion bowler with Special Olympics New York since she was 12 years old, Stephanie is a fierce advocate for people with disabilities, veterans, and seniors,” said Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “The dedication and relentless work she has shown over more than a decade of advocacy is truly admirable. We applaud NY Alliance for recognizing Stephanie with this distinguished award.”

Stephanie has been working with the State Legislature since 2014 to pass the “Stephanie Speaker Bill” (A.574; S.3144), which would require paratransit routes in New York to sync with public bus routes, so that people with disabilities have no less than 65% of the same routes available to them as the general public. The bill would require accessible busses to be available within a service area measuring 3 miles from any public authority bus line (currently ¾ of a mile), and ensure that as new busses are purchased, they are wheelchair accessible.

“Public transportation can be the difference between a person with disabilities holding a job or being unemployed,” Stephanie explains. “Many people with disabilities, veterans and seniors need public transportation because they cannot drive. Right now, paratransit only goes ¾ of a mile from a bus stop in many areas of the state, and people cannot get to the places they need to go – work, doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, recreation, education, etc. My bill would create this equality in public transportation, and I will not stop advocating until it is achieved.”

Born and raised in Depew, Stephanie began her advocacy journey at age 21 when her high school teachers encouraged her to attend a self-advocacy workshop. Since then, she has become a widely respected voice in the disability community – earning multiple accolades for her leadership and service.

Stephanie is an accomplished Special Olympics New York athlete, having competed in both track and field—where she earned several gold medals in the mile—and in bowling, where she is still trying to beat her personal best score of 171.

Stephanie serves as an Ambassador at the American Red Cross of Western New York, and volunteers with Meals on Wheels and St. Andrews Parish in Cheektowaga. In addition to the New York State bill, Stephanie is currently advocating for several similar bills at the federal level.

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