Draft:Jennifer Kumiyama

• Comment: This draft is written like a social media profile, and is not written from a neutral point of view. It is suggested that the author request advice at the Teahouse on how to write a neutral biography of a living person.
  This does not mean that the subject is biographically notable, and it does not mean that she is not biographically notable. It means that this draft needs to be rewritten. Robert McClenon (talk) 20:44, 1 March 2024 (UTC)

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Jennifer Kumiyama (born February 21, 1980) is an American singer, actress, local government professional and disability rights activist living in Long Beach, California. She was crowned Ms. Wheelchair California in 2010, and is currently the accessibility coordinator at the City of Long Beach.

Early life

Kumiyama was born February 21, 1980 in Riverside, California to Marilynn Pace and Eddie Kumiyama. She was born with Arthrogryposis, a term used to describe a variety of conditions involving multiple joint contractors (or stiffness.) This condition means the range of motion of a joint is limited and unable to extend. She uses a wheelchair daily.

In 1985 the family moved to Long Beach, California where Kumiyama began school. Then the family moved to Fontana, California in 1990, where Kumiyama graduated from A. B. Miller High School as an honor thespian in 1998. She went on to Riverside Community College in 1999, then moved to Long Beach and attended Long Beach City College and the California State University, Long Beach for voice training.

Kumiyama began her career as a singer in 2000 with an appearance on the Popstars 2 reality television show by Warner Bros. In 2002 she performed at the Disney California Adventure Theme Park. in the live show Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular. She was the first Disney actor to perform onstage in a wheelchair. The show closed in 2016, allowing Kumiyama a 13-year run as a member of the ensemble.

In 2011 Kumiyama performed the role of Carmen in Fox Searchlight’s Oscar-nominated film The Sessions, alongside Helen Hunt, William H. Macy and John Hawkes. The movie’s plot involves a man with polio who wants to explore intimacy for the first time with a surrogate lover.

Kumiyama joined the cast of Wish, an animated musical feature film by Disney, in 2022. Kumiyama performs both voice over work and singing as the character Dahlia, the royal baker who is also the best friend of the protagonist Asha. Dahlia is the unofficial leader of The Teens, a group of youths destined to set things right in the mythical kingdom of Rosas.

Disability work

Kumiyama began her work in public service as a commissioner for the Long Beach Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disability (CACoD) serving from 2014 through 2016. The nine-member commission, which is appointed by the city's mayor and confirmed by the city council, compiles information, reviews studies and data, and advises city government on issues concerning the disabled community.

In 2016 Kumiyama worked in the Long Beach City Council office of Lena Gonzalez. Gonzalez later became a California State Senator representing District 33 which includes much of Long Beach and other neighboring cities. Kumiyama also worked in the office of former Long Beach mayor Robert Garcia (2014-2022) who became a United States Congressman representing the California 42nd district, which includes Long Beach and other cities to the north.

Currently, Kumiyama works as the Citywide Accessibility Coordinator for the office of the Long Beach City Manager. She is also an elected delegate for the California Democratic Party, representing the 69th Assembly district that includes Long Beach, Carson, Signal Hill and parts of Lakewood and northern Orange County.

Along with winning the Ms. Wheelchair California title in 2010, Kumiyama was the first runner up Ms. Wheelchair America in 2011. She has been active with a number of disability advocacy organizations, including the national United Spinal Association headquartered in New York, the Disabled Resources Center and the Tichenor Clinic for Children, both in Long Beach.

In 2022 Kumiyama founded Long Beach Disability Pride, which tasks itself with “celebrating Long Beach’s diverse disability community all day, every day,” according to the organization's website.

In 2023 Kumiyama told the Fontana Herald News that “Growing up, kids like me with disabilities didn’t see themselves represented in any media. I get the distinct honor of being that representation for kids today. Representation really matters, and kids with disabilities need to see themselves in every aspect of media.”