In 1970, while playing lightweight football for Cornell University, Ken Kunken sustained a spinal cord injury during a game against Columbia University, resulting in quadriplegia at the C4-5 level. Despite being left almost completely paralyzed from the shoulders down, Ken's resilience and determination shaped a groundbreaking career in law, rehabilitation counseling, and disability advocacy...
…Ken spent over nine months in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, and even as a patient, he testified before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Health Care, chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy, advocating for improved healthcare policies for people with disabilities.
In 1971, nearly two decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Ken returned to Cornell University, where he became the first quadriplegic to graduate from the university, earning a degree in Industrial Engineering. Ken faced significant accessibility challenges, navigating almost 100 steps on his very first day back on campus.
Continuing to break barriers, Ken earned a Master of Arts in Education from Cornell and a Master of Education in Psychology from Columbia University, becoming the first quadriplegic to earn a graduate degree from Cornell.
In 1977, Ken joined Abilities Inc. in Albertson, NY, coordinating the College Work Orientation Program, which connected severely disabled college students with educational work experiences. He also provided vocational counseling for over 20 severely disabled individuals, helping them pursue meaningful careers.
Ken became a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor, delivering public presentations on non-discrimination, affirmative action, and the employment rights of individuals with disabilities. His work earned him the Long Island Rehabilitation Association’s “Rehabilitant of the Year” Award in 1977, and he was featured in Reverend Norman Vincent Peale’s nationally syndicated radio broadcast, “The American Character”, in 1979.
Ken’s passion for advocacy led him to pursue a Juris Doctor degree from Hofstra University School of Law, graduating in 1982. He spent over 40 years serving the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, where he rose to the role of Deputy Bureau Chief in the County Court Trial Bureau, supervising over 20 assistant district attorneys and mentoring more than 50 legal interns.
Ken’s legal excellence and dedication earned him the Honorable Thomas E. Ryan, Jr. Award from the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County in 1996 and the George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award from the Hofstra Alumni Association in 1999.
Ken’s extraordinary resilience and contributions were honored by the Adirondack Trust Allegiance Bowl in Saratoga Springs, NY, which established the Ken Kunken Most Valuable Player Award, presented annually for nine consecutive years beginning in 2005.
In 2009, Ken joined the Board of Directors at Abilities Inc., and in 2017, he became a Board Member for its parent organization, The Viscardi Center, further advancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Ken was inducted into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame in 2020, and in 2023, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office established the Kenneth J. Kunken Award, presented annually to an outstanding Assistant District Attorney embodying Ken’s spirit, dedication to justice, and unwavering commitment to colleagues.
In March 2024, Long Island Business News recognized Ken as one of Long Island’s Influencers in Law, highlighting his lasting impact on the legal community.
Ken has long sought to inspire others to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams. In October 2023, Ken published his memoir, “I Dream of Things That Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story,” sharing his remarkable life journey from life-altering injury to legal and advocacy success.
Ken married his wife Anna in 2003, and in 2005, they welcomed triplet sons: Joey, Jimmy, and Timmy. In 2023, the triplets graduated from Oceanside High School, exactly 55 years after Ken’s own graduation from the same school.
Website: kenkunken.com
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