Christine Burke is a systems change advocate at Rolling Start Inc., where she has been making strides in disability leadership and advocacy since 2024. With a Master of Arts in leadership from Capella University and a Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of the Pacific, Ms. Burke has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and raising awareness about the issues affecting the disabled. She consistently champions inclusivity and change in corporate and nonprofit sectors.
Born with spina bifida, Ms. Burke’s advocacy journey began early. She has long been a passionate advocate for disability rights, standing up for people with disabilities and their right to navigate life independently. Her role as Ms. Wheelchair California 2020 and Ms. Wheelchair America 2022 further amplified her platform, allowing her to spread the message that disability must be integral to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI. These titles were not about beauty but her advocacy work, emphasizing the importance of visibility for people with disabilities in diversity discussions. She firmly believes the disabled are the largest minority group globally, often overlooked in DEI efforts despite its considerable economic power.
Ms. Burke’s career reflects her commitment to these values. She has worked as a project coordinator at Fuse Theatre, a travel advisor with Incredible Memories Travel, and an outreach manager at C Talent, Whalar. At Rolling Start Inc., she educates the community about critical issues such as budget cuts, new programs, and resources that help individuals with disabilities navigate independently. Throughout her career, she has continued to seek new ways to help others, driven by her own experiences and the guidance of her family, particularly her mother, a physical therapist. Ms. Burke often credits her success to her mother, who not only prepared her for life with a disability but also pushed her beyond her comfort zone to pursue meaningful change.
Ms. Burke’s mission is to challenge ableism, which she sees as pervasive in society. She recognizes that not everyone with a disability has had the same privileges or opportunities that she was fortunate to have, and she is motivated by the desire to ensure all voices are heard. A particularly memorable moment happened at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. At age 16, her words inspired a young girl who shared a story about her uncle, giving him hope after being paralyzed in Hurricane Katrina.
In the coming years, Ms. Burke aims to expand her work by building a network of disability experts to enhance visibility and recognition within DEI initiatives. She is also focused on growing her consulting group and starting a speaking business, hoping to turn her passion for advocacy into a lasting career. Her goal is to leave a legacy as a great leader and collaborator, remembered for her kindness and dedication to making a difference.