My Story

Alex Elegudin’s life changed in an instant during his college years, when a car accident left him with a cervical spinal cord injury and he became a quadriplegic. In the aftermath of that injury, Alex was forced to navigate not only the physical realities of paralysis, but also the structural barriers that people with disabilities face every day—barriers embedded in education, transportation, healthcare, and public life. What began as a deeply personal reckoning became a lifelong commitment to advocacy and systemic change.

As Alex adjusted to life with a disability, he experienced firsthand how inaccessible systems—not disability itself—limit opportunity. Those early experiences navigating education, mobility, and independence shaped his understanding of disability as a civil rights issue and fueled his determination to push for change. Rather than accepting barriers as inevitable, Alex committed himself to ensuring that people with disabilities have the tools, access, and support necessary to live full, self-directed lives.

In addition to his advocacy work, Alex is the co-founder of Wheeling Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through adaptive sports, mobility support, and community-based programming. Through Wheeling Forward, Alex has helped countless individuals reconnect with independence, confidence, and joy—often through independent living, movement, recreation, and peer connection. His lived experience continues to ground his work and inform his leadership across every space he enters.

Today, Alex draws on both his personal journey and professional expertise to advance disability justice, focusing on breaking down systemic barriers and expanding opportunity for people with disabilities.

Education and Experience

Determined to turn lived experience into impact, Alex pursued a legal education at Hofstra University School of Law. As a disability rights attorney, he has spent his career working with individuals with disabilities and their families to access education, services, and opportunities that are too often denied or made unnecessarily difficult. His work blends legal advocacy with policy reform, grounded in the belief that true inclusion requires both individual support and systemic accountability.

Alex’s career spans government, higher education, and nonprofit leadership. He has held accessibility and policy roles with major public agencies, including the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he worked to improve transportation access for people with disabilities across the city. He also previously served as Assistant Director in Columbia University’s Disability Services Office, supporting students with disabilities in navigating higher education and advocating for institutional change within one of the nation’s leading universities.

In recent years, Alex has developed a strong focus on Elder Law and special needs planning, working with individuals with disabilities and their families to put the right legal, financial, and support structures in place over the long term. His work centers on securing independence, promoting active and meaningful lives, and supporting full participation in community life—ensuring that individuals have the tools, protections, and flexibility they need to live on their own terms, with dignity and choice.

Across his legal, policy, and nonprofit work, Alex remains driven by a singular purpose: to help people with disabilities access opportunity, independence, and full participation in their communities—while holding systems accountable to do better.

My Passion

Outside of his professional work, Alex’s greatest joy comes from his family and the life they share together. He has lived in Brooklyn nearly his entire life and feels deeply connected to the neighborhoods, parks, and communities that shaped him. Alex is married to his wife, whom he met while working at the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and together they are raising their young daughter. Family time—whether at home, out in the city, or outdoors—is central to his life.

Alex is also close with his four younger sisters, a relationship that has shaped his sense of responsibility, mentorship, and perspective. He enjoys being outdoors, spending time in community spaces, and staying active in ways that reflect both independence and connection. Whether it’s exploring the city, traveling with family, or simply being present for everyday moments, Alex values a life rooted in relationships, balance, and shared experiences.

For Alex, work, family, and community are deeply interconnected. The same values that guide his personal life—connection, independence, and participation—are the ones that continue to shape his professional path.

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Alex Elegudin
The Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm, PLLC

The Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm is a boutique firm committed to representing individuals following a catastrophic event and helping protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. At The Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm, we take a comprehensive approach to helping each and every client.

1629 K Street, NW Suite 300
Washington
DC
20006
1-877-724-3476 1-877-SCI-FIRM 18777243476

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