Rachel Bookman

RACHEL BOOKMAN

Rachel received a heart transplant in 2013 at age 19 and started using a wheelchair full-time in 2016. Up until then she had lead an active lifestyle and did things other young adults her age were doing.

Rachel was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. To date, only seven people have been diagnosed with this specific condition (including her late brother Dr. Mark Bookman) so there is little research and no treatment available.

Rachel is focused on the importance of raising awareness of accessibility and is actively working to amplify the voices of individuals in the disability community, through various platforms and social media.

Rachel participated in the Women Leading Together: Solidarity in Storytelling StoryJam through UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion and StoryCenter and completed the Digital Storytelling Certificate program through StoryCenter.

Rachel works in concert with her father Dr. Paul Bookman, DMD on GLIDE FUND INC., a non-profit organization setup in memory of her brother.