My work has shifted from chasing medals to building infrastructure.
I used to think
my job was train, race, recover, repeat.
Now I see my work as layered: athlete, disability advocate, marketing strategist, storyteller. Competing is a part of it but so is shaping culture, building partnerships, and helping brands understand disability beyond inspiration.
My career spans professional sports business, casting, social media, and disability education. I’ve worked on Team USA’s digital media team, specializing in athlete storytelling and content production, while also freelancing as a disability access consultant.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the gap between being seen and being heard. I’ve stood on start lines at multiple Paralmypic Games but I’m more interested in who’s shaping the systems behind them. See the work I do and the organizations and movements I support. Want to get to work? Get in touch.
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In 2019, Dani co-founded Culxtured, a media collective with a mission as bold as our founders. Born from the passion and experiences of four Paralympians, we are here to revolutionize the way the world views para sport.
Our journey is not just about sports; it's a movement to educate and challenge societal perceptions around disabilities — to eliminate the "UN" from uncultured.
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Dani serves as the co-director of Born to Adapt, an initiative focused on making trail running more inclusive and accessible for disabled athletes. Through this work, the organization has partnered with major race organizers—like Broken Arrow Skyrace, UTMB World Series, and others—to help design and implement race-day experiences that create real opportunities for participation. From accessible course planning to athlete outreach and storytelling, Born to Adapt help ensure that trail running communities not only welcome disabled athletes but actively celebrate them.
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Dani volunteers as the Programs Coordinator for the Inclusive Outdoors Project, an organization that hosts events that bridge the gap between affinity spaces and outdoor based organizations.
One of the major barriers to the outdoors is access; access for people with disabilities; access for BIPOC and Queer communities; access to finances; access to outdoor gear; access to mentorship and outdoor education opportunities. Dani works on creating programming for trail running, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing.
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Dani became involved with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation in 2020, advising on diversity panels related to the 2034 bid. She was one of six speakers for the IOC presentation to decide the bid for Salt Lake City in Paris. Dani sits on the steering committee and venues sub-commitee.
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Dani started as a volunteer with NubAbility in spring of 2019. NubAbility Athletics is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that hosts sports camps for children with traumatic and congenital amputations.
Having volunteered for five different camps, Dani’s favorite part is showing other limb-different children that their “disability” is what makes them unique. She has coached soccer, basketball, cheer & dance, strength & conditioning, and downhill skiing to over 50 limb-different children.
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Dani was a patient at Shriners Hospital for Children since the time she was four months old. The hospital helped her year after year with prosthetic arms.
After moving to Salt Lake City, Dani began volunteering at the same Shriners Hospital that she was once a patient at. She checked patients in, gave the kids stuffed animals or toys before they had surgery, and represented the hospital as a Patient Ambassador. As a Patient Ambassador, Dani would be part of public service announcements and spoke at events on behalf of the hospital.
Organization highlight:
Check out the work we’re doing at Born to Adapt, which partners with establish trail races—like mammoth trailfest., Desert Rats Trail Festival UTMB, Broken Arrow Skyrace and others—to reserve spaces for adaptive athletes, and creates global events for the disabled community.
Cultural work doesn’t happen in a vaccuum. If you’re interested in the work we’re doing at Culxtured, head over to culxtured.com to get in touch.
