On August 12, 1975 , I was born to proud parents, Clara and Robert Wright, and sister, Debi Wright Nowakowski. Shortly after my birth I was diagnosed with a condition called Cerebral Palsy, which affects my fine-motor skills and my ability to balance for walking. However, from the day I was born, the word "can't" has never been in my vocabulary. I attribute this to my family, who have always encouraged me to do my very best and to reach for the stars.

Throughout childhood, I was extremely active. I participated in school activities, clubs, hobbies, and enjoyed "just being a kid". I was the first student with a disability, in the history of the Autauga County School System, to be mainstreamed grades first through twelfth. This presented many challenges for my family, and for me, to overcome. Ramps had to built, bathroom stalls had to widened, and, perhaps the most important, the school administration and teachers had to be educated on the rights and the abilities of a person with a disability. In high school, I was a member of the Prattville High School Marching Band and a member of many clubs. At the age of 17, I graduated with an Advanced Alabama High School Diploma and honors. After graduating from high school, I attended Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). During my college years I found many opportunities to share and educate others about the abilities of a person with a disability. As the student representative on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Task Force, a member of numerous honor societies, Peer Leader, representative of my sorority (Delta Zeta) on the Homecoming Court as 1st runner-Up, and much more I was able to encourage others to realize "anything is possible" if you work hard and never loose sight of your goals. In 2000, I graduated from AUM at the top of my class in the School of Business and with honors --Summa Cum Laude and Chancellor's Scholar Award. This accomplishment was also a first. It was the first time in the history of AUM that a marketing major graduated at the top of the class in the School of Business winning the Chancellor's Scholars Award.

Throughout my life I have enjoyed painting and writing. After graduation from AUM, I directed my attention to seriously pursuing my love of painting and writing. Today, I have paintings in galleries throughout Alabama.  I write a column for "The Tri-County Gazette" newspaper called“Trisston’s Tidbits”.

On October 2, 2004, I was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America /Alabama 2005. This has been a "dream come true" and has given me extensive opportunities to travel across the state of Alabama and the United States advocating, educating, and promoting the abilities of people with disabilities. This honor has reinforced my life's mission of encouraging others to live life to the fullest and to not allow the challenges of life to prevent them from achieving their dreams.  

On May 24, 2008, I married to my best friend and the love of my life, Brian Burrows, in a beautiful garden ceremony in Aldridge Gardens located in Hoover, Alabama. To read more about our engagement and wedding, please click here. 

I currently serve on several boards and committees including the City of Birmingham’s Americans with Disabilities Advisory Committee, the City of Hoover’s WOOFStock Planning Committee, the Alabama Leadership Transition Institute Advisory Board, Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce's Minority Business Council, the Birmingham Business Alliance's Small Business Council, and the Disability Rights & Resources Junior Board.  I am also a former member of the Alabama State Rehabilitation Council and former member and Chairperson of the Special Education Advisory Panel.