Meet Austin Hanson: A Capper Then & Now Story…Paralympic Athlete and Tireless Advocate for People with Disabilities

In 1974, a sweet baby boy named Austin was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy after complications occurred while recovering from a surgical procedure. Despite his physical challenges, Austin is living his life to the fullest through work and play while finding love along the way.

While at Capper Foundation, he received physical, occupational, and speech therapy in conjunction with school (USD 501 had academic classrooms at Capper from 1959 to 1996). “My therapists and teachers taught me that I can do a lot for myself – be as independent as possible and advocate for myself and others.” Not a fan of most classes, Austin discovered his lifelong passion for playing and teaching Boccia in Physical Education (PE) class. “I started playing when I was about 13 years old, and Boccia is the thing that makes me feel like I can do something even though I have a lot of challenges.” The sport has taken him all over the country and the world winning multiple gold medals at USA Nationals, the opportunity to represent Team USA and participate in three Paralympic Games (Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004, London 2012), and is ranked 12th in the world.

Spending time in the Capper Work Center, Austin learned how to use a computer, and that skill has been instrumental in his over 20-year career as a Data Entry Specialist for Families Together, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides information and support for families with children who have disabilities or special health care needs as they navigate school services, health care, and community resources across the state of Kansas. In addition to work and play, Austin is a confident and well-spoken advocate with the goal of increasing work opportunities for people with disabilities. “I serve on the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Council of Community Members for the CDDO, and was recently invited to speak on a panel at the Speak Up! Conference in Kansas City. I want to encourage people with disabilities to speak up for themselves because no decision for us should be made without us!”

Austin and his fiancée, Julia, are on a mission to shine a light on marriage equality and end the marriage penalty, hoping to form an advocacy group focused on the elimination of this outdated rule. Currently, individuals with disabilities will receive a reduction of or completely lose their benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) once they get married because their spouse’s income counts as theirs as well – putting their savings and assets over the maximum allowed to receive benefits.

In the future, Austin hopes to qualify for and participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics and open his own coaching and speaking business. With your support, Capper Foundation can continue to help individuals build their abilities so that they can live a fulfilled life pursuing their passions, hopes, and dreams.

To read the full newsletter in which this story was published, click here.