Today we’d like to introduce you to Dina J. Reh; MA; Chief Operating Officer and Founder; Registered Counseling Intern.
Dina J. Reh, a 42-year old from CANADA was having a normal childhood until age 2. During a regular day of Montessori School when she felt so sick and advised by the teachers to go home and rest. It was here at age 2, that Dina and her family had a choice to overcome or give up. Life was never going to be the samething.
She could have succumbed to the disease and no one would have judged given her diagnosis. Instead, she decided to fight with all her will. She attacked her diagnosis of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis with a brand new nutritional lifestyle and created a platform of perseverance, positivity, encouragement and turned her experience into a series of successful self-motivation stories.
Dina J. Reh is originally from Toronto, Canada. She has lived in North San Diego County since 1991 primarily the Carlsbad Areas. After receiving her Bachelor in Sociology at the University of California San Diego. She went on to pursue and received her Masters in 2013 with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of San Diego, pursuing a sub-specialty in trauma, sexual abuse, domestic violence, disability and sex trafficking. With a background in non-profit work, disability, advocacy rights, social justice, AIDS awareness prevention and poverty as well as anti-trafficking campaigns in South Africa, Dina has both challenged her local community here in San Diego and internationally. She has inspired and challenged local communities, schools, and churches. In doing so, she has become a pivotal speaker on the important issues of today’s culture. She has been a keynote speaker for Easter Seals, Arthritis Foundation, community outreach programs, and has appeared on local news channels. She wholeheartedly believes that everyone has the potential to live their lives differently and impact this world! Dina has battled many challenges throughout her 40 years of disability and continues to pursue her desires to reach higher goals, Dina’s ability to overcome many struggles as a wheelchair bound individual has led her to stand on a strong and unique platform as an advocate for Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking Issues, disability, and abuse.
Dina has been working since 2014 in Oceanside CA in a Counseling Role for both abusers and victims of Domestic Violence. This young lady loves helping others and has a calling on her life to inspire, educate and overcome challenges in so many facets of her daily life. Dina also holds a major love for community outreach and believes in the restoration of families and fatherhood. In 2014, Dina started running court ordered battery intervention groups aimed at reducing violence and creating safety for those in any family distress. In 2015, Dina started Club ABLE from her struggles of fighting for advocacy and independence as a wheelchair bound individual. She highlights and reports, I was only 10 minutes away when my wheelchair accessible van broke and I couldn’t get home. There are no handicaps Uber’s, and to find a wheelchair van I had to pay triple the amount of money and when my van breaks down I don’t get options like other people. I am often just down for the count until something is figured out. Wheelchair accessible van rides cost over $100.00 if there is an emergency issue and finding adequate care providers is a consistent struggle so I decided to start Club ABLE. I want a place where the physicality disabled people and community can get real services and practical needs met by someone who understands this struggle.
I have a vision and a dream for Club ABLE to bring community advocates together, families and meet the real needs of both my physical disabled community and those victimized by abuse or violence. I don’t live in a metropolitan area or have the luxury to organize rides weeks in advance. I am a wheelchair user but I’m not homebound or on hospice. I’m a fighter, not a victim. Dina believes in miracles and the power of positivity and encouragement, she strives on having a strong mindset to overcome all challenges. Dina believes in people and the process of overcoming them. I believe that adversity can affect anyone and it’s how we choose to look at adversity that makes the biggest difference. Will you allow the small things to break your soul or will you choose to fight your battles with all that’s within. I choose to use my voice, my mind and whatever I have working. I am not immune to challenge and I will continue to challenge myself and my community. My hope and dream are to have a wheelchair accessible van and bring local change to my community with my van. It has to start somewhere so why not start. www.club-able.com
gofundme.com/buildempowergo
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
At age of two, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis so consistent pain and swelling were a daily struggle. Stiffness, pain and high fevers were a consistent theme of childhood experiences. College and University were also a major struggle with long days of traveling, shortened limbs and the inability to find adequate transportation for school. As a young professional and community advocate finding qualified providers that understand wheelchair accessibility or lack of it has been a huge struggle. Transportation has been so difficult not living near bus lines or having the options to use transportation because I’m a wheelchair user and vans are accessible unless it’s private sector and then the costs associated are horrendous and I just don’t have that kind of money. Getting up in the mornings is difficult and full of pain, discomfort and stiffness sometimes the pains just don’t stop.
Please tell us about your organization.
I am the chief executive of Club ABLE. I started this non-profit in 2015 out of my struggles of adversity and being a wheelchair-bound female and professional. No one gets through life without adversity. No one has control when or how it hits. My family and I had many battles with adversity and my being in a wheelchair is just one of the many life lessons., My family also had to battle as my brother was hit by a car in college and almost died but he didn’t. We all had to chose to deal with the challenges head-on. Neither of us complained that’s not in our DNA. Challenging situations can define you or they can make you stronger. I have had to fight so many of these challenges myself and often in isolation you feel alone. Yet, the reality is that I’m not fighting alone because I have faith and a belief in God that helps me fight all my battles in prayers, family, and worship. As a wheelchair user, I am proud of not being compliant and giving up through the difficult times. I believe in the vision to create the real needs of the community and create independence, encouragement and movement. I want wheelchair users to get their needs met and not struggle with a lack of independence and movement. I want a place where caregivers are qualified to help those with physical disabilities. I want a wheelchair van that can assist community outreach and allow people the freedom to see movies or pursue work without having to take time because they cannot afford proper transportation. I want a place where people can have counseling and learn to deal with them everyday difficulties and stressors. I want to bring families together and United. I believe that everybody, each person has a face and a name and all of this is part of the essence of families.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe that faith, integrity, hope, encouragement, education and community advocacy is essential to any successful business and essential in making my business a platform of change.
Contact Info:
- Address: gofundme.com/buildempowergo
- Website: www.club-able.com
- Phone: 7604202248
- Email: lovetheteam@gmail.com
- Instagram: @clubablesd (business)
@dinajreh (personal) - Twitter: @AblesdClub
Image Credit:
Personal photos by self
Photos of hands by friend and photographer,Paloma Ynda Ramsey @ Paloma Lisa Photography
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