Jonathan Slifka

TRAILBLAZER . LEADER . DISABILITY ADVOCATE . INSPIRATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.

About Me

I’m Jon Slifka,

TRAILBLAZER . LEADER . ADVOCATE .

Throughout my entire life, I have broken barriers.

Growing up in West Hartford, Connecticut, at every turn I was the first person with a disability to take the path I followed. The first one to be mainstreamed through the public school system. The first one in the state to play in the Little League. The first Connecticut student in a wheelchair to play on a high school tennis team.

I didn’t always realize I was traversing new ground, I just felt I was headed in the right direction.

READ MY STORY

WHAT IS INSPIRE UNIVERSITY?

Inspire University or, “Inspire U”, is a 360° approach, it’s an approach to the concepts of inspiration, motivation, and learning. As eternal students in life, I believe that we all should look for opportunities to inspire and motivate others while constantly seeking knowledge and growth.

Inspire University Provides Keynotes and Community Talks.

Along with your company, corporation, organization, or classroom, it is my sincere hope that we can all inspire, motivate and learn together.

“Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.”
– Augustine Og Mandino

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Credentials

March of Dimes Poster Child 1985-1987
First student in a wheelchair mainstreamed through West Hartford Public School System
First athlete in a wheelchair to play Little League Baseball in Connecticut
First athlete in a wheelchair to play for high school tennis team in Connecticut
First Governor’s Liaison to the Disability Community (first cabinet-level position of its kind in the history of Connecticut)
Served as Chair of Governor’s Committee on Employment for Persons with Disabilities
Served as Chair of West Hartford Democratic Town Committee
Served as Co-Chair of Developmental Disabilities Working Group

Served as member of Transportation Task Force addressing needs of Aging and Disability Community
Served as member of Police Transparency and Accountability Task Force. Chair of Sub-Committee on Improving Police Interactions with the Disability Community.
Member of Police Officer Standards and Training Council. Member of Curriculum and Accreditation Sub-Committees.
Member of Hate Crimes Advisory Council
Member of Vision Zero Council
Founding member and current president for the Miracle League of Connecticut.
Member of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force for Playhouse on Park in West Hartford.

Let’s Inspire, Motivate, and Grow Together

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Public Speaking

News & Media

A Winning. 300 Hitter From His Wheelchair

Image of an article from the courant on Jonthan Slifka being named liason of the governor

Governor Names Liaison To Disability Community

A Spirit Without Match in Any Game

Testimonials

I had the pleasure of working with Jon on the Police Transparency and Accountability Task Force. Jon’s dedication to advocating for the disability community was evident in everything they did. They brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and were always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that the needs of the disability community were being heard and addressed. Jon’s passion for their work is truly inspiring, and I have no doubt that they will continue to make a positive impact in their community.

Jon has been a tireless advocate for people with disabilities throughout their career. As a member of the Developmental Disabilities Working Group, I have been constantly impressed by Jon’s dedication and commitment to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area and are always willing to lend their expertise to help move important initiatives forward. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Jon and can confidently say that they are an invaluable asset to any team.

I have had the pleasure of working with Jon on several projects over the years, and I am consistently impressed by their passion and dedication to advocating for people with disabilities. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and their ability to connect with others and build meaningful relationships is truly exceptional. Jon is an invaluable asset to any team and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with them.

Jon is an incredible advocate for the disability community. As the Governor’s Liaison to the Disability Community, they worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of individuals with disabilities were being heard and addressed at the highest levels of government. Their dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities is truly inspiring, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with them. Jon is a valuable asset to any team and I have no doubt that they will continue to make a positive impact in their community for years to come.