U.S. Paralympian Dani Aravich Encourages Disability Community To Find Their Own Successes

Editor's note: This interview and blog feature the experience of U.S. Paralympian Danielle Aravich. While she did not use the Ticket to Work Program, a federal Social Security disability benefit that supports returning to work, she speaks about many of the same goals and themes that Allsup Employment Services (AES) customers experience on a daily basis. With the free support of vocational professionals at Social Security-authorized Employment Networks like AES, those looking to rejoin the workforce can persevere with help and encouragement on their return-to-work journey.

Photo by Mark Reis.

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For most of the world, 2026 brought back the excitement and thrill of the Olympic Games, but this year was exceptional for its counterpart, the Paralympic Games. The 2026 Paralympic Games earned larger viewership than any other year in the U.S., proving that visibility and support of the disability community is growing.

For U.S. Paralympic nordic skier and biathlete, Danielle (Dani) Aravich, media visibility of Para sports has been a major goal of hers, but disability was not always her focus.

"Disability is a thing that exists. It’s neither positive nor negative. The more that we humanize it, making it more real to more people, the more real it becomes to the rest of the world." – Dani Aravich

Dani Aravich's Journey

Dani was born in Idaho, missing her left hand and forearm, and grew up in a community where she recalls getting many questions. She'd wear longs-sleeve tops, even during hot, summer months, to hide her disability and "fit in."

She was raised by parents who were both collegiate athletes and inspired her love of sports. She started with non-Para sports, like soccer and basketball, and eventually earned a scholarship at a Division 1 school for track and field. She competed in track at Butler University in Indianapolis until she left the team to focus on marketing studies. Dani graduated in 2018 with her bachelor's degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, helping to shape her current role as co-founder of Culxtured.

After graduating, she worked in Salt Lake City for a professional basketball team. As the city hosted the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Games, some of her co-workers encouraged her to seek out opportunities in the Paralympics. This is where Dani’s Paralympic athletic journey began.

After a few short months of training, Dani quickly qualified for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a 400 meter sprinter. While the Paralympics looked a little different, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dani remembers the pride she felt to wear the Team USA uniform and how it felt to "represent a community that is often underrepresented."

The Paralympics were a way for Dani to "own her disability," after spending her childhood trying to hide it. She began to use the Paralympics and her platform as an elite athlete to show the next generation that they shouldn’t cover their disability. Although her athletic journey hasn't been easy – often questioning if leaving her corporate role and the financial strains were worth it – she has continued to succeed.

While the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games didn't provide Aravich with the podium results she was looking for, she joined the U.S. Paralympic skiing team and competed in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. She has now shifted her Paralympic career from track and field into winter sports, such as Para nordic skiing and biathlon, both of which take many months for training. Most recently, Dani competed in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.

Continuing Education And Support Within The Disability Community

Even with her heavy training schedule, Dani has continued her education and volunteer work within the disability community. Because she didn't grow up with much of a local disability community, she said she "had a lot to learn." She focuses on learning about everyone in the community, whether the individual has a disability or is related to the community in another way. She recently graduated with her master's degree in Disability Policy and Accessibility Design.

"People get put into a box, but you can exist in many spaces, if you choose to." – Dani Aravich

Encouragement And Inspiration To Those In The Disability Community

Like Allsup Employment Services, Dani Aravich is encouraging the disability community to find their own success. She said that "everyone can be a great advocate" no matter how it happens – if that looks like being an elite athlete, joining a community group or returning to work after a disability.