Julianna Rodrigues ’13 was the the first recipient of Moravian’s Health Sciences Champion Award. She was also one of 28 commonwealth residents appointed to the new Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities this past summer. Photo by Nick Chismar ’20
Growing up in Bethlehem, Julianna Rodrigues ’13 was constantly on the move, filling her days with sports, dance, and band.
Everything changed in high school when she fractured her foot. Despite multiple surgeries, the injury left her with lasting weakness, and she never fully regained her strength.
“I started having difficulties going up and down the stairs,” Rodrigues says. “I couldn’t run. I couldn’t get up from a seated position, and even sitting was difficult. Throughout all of that, and seeing different doctors, having different tests done, no one could really figure out what was wrong with me.”
It wasn’t until she was a student at Moravian University, majoring in political science with a minor in sociology, that Rodrigues was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B, a genetic neuromuscular disease with no known cure.
Alongside her studies, Rodrigues began learning about her body, how to navigate the world with a disability, and how to advocate and fight for her rights and needs. All the while, she kept thinking, Wow, this is overwhelming. Is there a way I could help other people?
Rodrigues initially planned to attend law school after graduating from Moravian, but a counselor at the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation encouraged her to consider a career in disability advocacy instead. Rodrigues embraced that path and has since dedicated her career to helping people with disabilities live independent, productive lives free from barriers.
She went on to earn her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling online from Assumption University. She interned with the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, an Allentown nonprofit that provides services and resources for people with disabilities.
Now, she works at LVCIL as the Community Inclusion for Young Children project coordinator. Funded through the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, the project aims to help families of young children with disabilities access resources, navigate services, and build advocacy skills through a parent support group, coaching, and peer mentorship.
Last spring, Rodrigues became the first recipient of Moravian’s Health Sciences Champion Award, which recognizes individuals, groups, or agencies that demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to preparing students for careers in health sciences. Additionally, this past summer Rodrigues was one of 28 commonwealth residents appointed to the new Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities.
The purpose of the commission is to recommend policy changes, engage with federal, state, and local agencies, and communicate initiatives to the public. The group will also compile information on programs, funding, and additional support to create an inclusive resource for individuals with differing abilities living across Pennsylvania.
“It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to help shape conversations that impact the lives of people with disabilities,” Rodrigues says. “I’m looking forward to advocating, but more than that, I’m looking forward to listening to and learning from other people, collaborating, and ensuring that voices and experiences of the disability community are heard.”
At Moravian, Rodrigues has been a regular guest speaker, sharing her lived experiences during Social Issues in Health Sciences, a capstone course aimed at preparing senior students to advocate for those who are underserved as they enter the workforce.
“It’s always such a fantastic experience because they ask me so many different questions,” Rodrigues says of the students. “I learn a lot from them as well. Coming back to these classrooms to give back is a meaningful way to support the next generation of professionals.”
Danielle Costanzo, assistant clinical professor of health sciences, says having speakers such as Rodrigues gives students the opportunity to hear firsthand about the challenges faced by those with different abilities, making the class both memorable and motivating.
“She experiences challenges herself, but she’s also part of the solution to supporting and advocating for that population,” Costanzo says.
Rodrigues enjoys sharing her story with others, especially if it can pave a smoother path for those with differing abilities. She says it was an honor to receive Moravian’s new Health Science Champion Award.
Rodrigues really stood out for her work at LVCIL as well as being a recurring guest speaker, says Colleen Payton, associate professor of public health and chair of Moravian’s Public Health and Health Sciences Department.
“Julianna is someone who really does a fantastic job of not only sharing her own personal experiences, but also all the advocacy work and all the work that she does in the community,” Payton says. “I think it’s really inspiring for our students to be able to hear about those stories as they embark on their own career journeys, to think about the advocacy work that they can do.”
Reflecting on her work advocating for herself and others, Rodrigues says her experience at Moravian, both as a student and as an alumna, has positively impacted her career and personal life. —Molly Bilinski, Photos by Nick Chismar ’20