Thompson was diagnosed at birth with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition that causes
the bones to be very brittle and easily fracture. She was invited to a special event at The White House honoring the contributions
of African-Americans with disabilities to black history. 
Thompson with with Miss Wheelchair USA 2014-2015 Yvette Pegues
Thompson with President Barack Obama in 2008
during his campaign visit to Winthrop
WASHINGTON, D.C. - When Winthrop University alumna Vilissa Thompson '08, '12, started her blog Ramp Your Voice in 2013, she set out on an important mission.
"I wanted to build up my blog as a service organization, to where I can use my experience
and knowledge as a social worker and a person with disabilities to educate professionals
and lay people about people with disabilities, especially women of color with disabilities,"
said Thompson, a native of Winnsboro, South Carolina.
Thompson was diagnosed at birth with a brittle bone condition known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta. The rare condition causes the bones to not make enough collagen, which makes the
bones especially fragile and susceptible to fractures. While she can walk, she often
uses a wheelchair to get around.
Washington, D.C., has officially taken notice. Thanks to her tireless work on Ramp
Your Voice and with various disabilities non-profits, The White House's Office of
Public Engagement invited Thompson to a special event last week honoring the contributions
of African Americans with disabilities to black history.
Days after receiving the invitation, Thompson boarded a train bound for Baltimore.
Family members in Baltimore drove her to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building,
where she met people with disabilities from across the United States.
Though the visit did not include meeting President Barack Obama-Thompson previously met him in 2008 when he visited Winthrop on the campaign trail-she
did have a fun run-in with Sonny and Bo, the "First Dogs" of Obama and his family.
"Bo wasn't very into meeting people, but Sunny was very friendly," Thompson laughed.
At the event, Thompson listened to disabilities advocacy speakers, which included
discussions on identifying as both a person with disabilities and as an African American.
The talk compared the Civil Rights Movement with the current disabilities movement.
Representatives from official government offices, such as the Justice Department and
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, shared their offices' efforts to
benefit people with disabilities. She and attendees also enjoyed a performance by
"The Voice" contestant Blessing Offor.
Thompson was particularly excited when Keri Gray, the youth transitions fellow for
the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), recognized Thompson and her blog.
"I was like, ˜Wait, you know who I am?'" Thompson said. "I'm really glad I went. It
was very empowering to be in that group and see people of different shapes, sizes
and colors."
˜Your Voice Matters'
Thompson earned a degree in psychology from Winthrop in 2008, but it was her master's degree in social work that pointed her down the advocacy path.
She served as a board member for the non-profit group The Arc of South Carolina, an organization that advocates for people with intellectual and development disabilities.
Her work opened the door for her to serve on the diversity committee for the National
Arc.
Additionally, Thompson volunteers for the Fairfield County branch of the American
Red Cross, writes for a national wheelchair van company's site and guest blogs for
disability advocacy organizations at request. She also serves as secretary for and
manages the website of the Fairfield County Democratic Party.
She won't let anything stand in her way, saying there will always be obstacles in
life, but that they're not your fault.
"They're usually systemic or barriers, something like you can't get into a building,
or people discriminate against you," she said. "At the same time I've had to work
beyond that and not allow those misperceptions of me define who I am--to know that
I am worthy, I am important, my dreams are just as important as anyone else's ,and
my disability doesn't define the life that I want to make.
"A disability is not shameful or ugly. It makes you unique. Have confidence in who
you are. Your voice matters."
For more information on Thompson and disabilities issues, visit her Ramp Your Voice blog. Interested in talking with her? Call Nicole Chisari, communications coordinator,
at 803/323-2236 or e-mail her at chisarin@winthrop.edu.
