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
Related Posts
About Joash WalkinsJoash Walkins is a passionate martial artist on a focused mission to reach the UFC. With unmatched dedication to his craft and a deep-rooted commitment to serving humanity, Joash continues to inspire others through both his journey and actions… …Eight years after his first appearance on the 12 Minute Convos Podcast, Joash reflects
Read MoreDavid Henzel- David Henzel-I’m a serial entrepreneur and I write about things I have learned along the way. I’m passionate about helping entrepreneurs and executives to find success and harmony in business and at home. How does applying business principles to family life even work? I have been a successful entrepreneur while struggling to manage my
Read MoreAbout Melissa RauntenbergI have often been referred to as “the air traffic controller” of marketing operations.Ensuring the efficient execution of marketing strategies is a clear passion of mine. Nothing is better than working with a great team to connect business and brand goals to marketing strategy and execution… …I excel at building, training, and optimizing
Read MoreJoel Higginbotham- Joel Higginbotham has been an entrepreneur since 7 years old. His first foray was inspired after watching a car dealership advertise a “Hog Wild Sale” on tv. He then went to his brothers and announced he was having a “Hog Wild Sale” in his room in 10 minutes. That started his entrepreneur adventures
Read MoreAbout Angie ReadAngie Read, 53, is a two-time stroke survivor, author, motivational speaker, and life coach dedicated to helping female stroke survivors rebuild confidence and reclaim their lives. She empowers women to navigate the mental and emotional challenges that come with stroke recovery… …Inspiring Books for Stroke Survivors and Mental HealthAngie’s books provide hope, guidance,
Read MoreAbout Mozella AdemiluyiI guide professional women to overcome work-life challenges, tap into their inner strengths, and navigate the path to their vision, desires, and goals. My clients are high-achieving women who have built successful careers but also face increasing stress, overwhelm, and self-doubt. They’re ready for change and are actively seeking sustainable tools, transformational roadmaps,
Read MoreAbout Mitchell LevyMitchell Levy is a Global Credibility Expert, 2x TEDx speaker, and international bestselling author of over 60 books. His TEDx talk on credibility ranked as the 28th most popular in 2021. As a Certified Stakeholder Centered Coach and executive coach with Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches, he empowers individuals and organizations to build trust
Read MoreDevani Anjali- My name is Devani Anjali. This is pronounced: Day-Vah-knee. Hello! I suppose people like to know who writes the tiny black letters here. Could be a little leprechaun… or maybe a unicorn. Honestly, it depends on the day as to what form I take. So as not to frighten you too much, I’ve
Read MoreJamila Bannister – Branding and Digital Marketing Professional /Ep 2856 Jamila Bannister is branding and digital professional and the Managing Director of JBannister Branding Ltd. With just over 13 years’ experience, she has worked in Marketing Communications and Branding since 2007. Her stints included communications for government agencies like the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service
Read MoreJason Rogers – Jason Rogers is an author, a personal development coach for men, creator of peakunderpressure.com, and the Founder of PEAK Inc., the personal development brand dedicated to helping men grow every day. He’s also a regular contributor for The Good Men Project, an online publication with over 5 million visitors per month. Listen
Read MoreDave Stockbridge-Non descript suburban working to middle class real estate agent with a normie life shared with a wife and 2 children at home. Over the last 2 years has been working on a formula for success for Facebook marketing for real estate agents. Organically reaching many 1000x greater than the global average Dave Stockbridge
Read MoreLin Morel- Lin Morel is compassionate and direct and has worked with thousands of individuals and groups during her career. Her greatest joy is witnessing the metamorphosis of those who transform their trauma(s) into brilliance. She knows first hand the impact of post traumatic stress, and the strength, courage and power unleashed when the past
Read More