welcome
jennifer kumiyama
singer actress advocate
biography
Jennifer was born with Arthrogryposis (AMC). AMC occur once in every 3,000 births. Doctors said she would never have use of her limbs. Jennifer's inabilities have never stopped her from breaking barriers, overcoming adversity and living her life to the fullest.
Jennifer discovered her passion for music and theater by the time she was in kindergarten. Being a professional singer and actress was a secret dream of Jennifer's.
After much thought, she branched out into the performing world and started auditioning for various performing jobs. Her first audition was for Warner Bros. Reality TV Show "PopStars2". Jennifer was featured in the first two episodes and created a buzz as "the girl in the wheelchair" in TV Guide, Variety Magazine and other local papers. Jennifer's confidence and will to live her dream grew.
In 2002, after an extensive audition process, Jennifer was cast by internationally recognized director of opera and theater, Francesca Zambello, in Disney's "Aladdin; A Musical Spectacular", making her the first performer in a wheelchair in a Disney Theme Park. Jennifer represents the people with disabilities to 8,000 people, from all over the world, on a daily basis.
Jennifer was crowned Ms. Wheelchair California 2010 at the Abilities Expo in Los Angeles, California. She represented California at the Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant in Grand Rapids, Michigan and came back the 1st Runner Up to Ms. Wheelchair America and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Her most recent credits include "Forever Beautiful", MTV's "Awkward." and Carmen in Fox Searchlight's "The Sessions" which will release in October 2012.
