Our Team-
Josh Basile
Council Member
In 2004, at the age of 18, Josh Basile’s life took an unexpected turn when a catastrophic wave during a family beach trip left him paralyzed below the shoulders. Instead of allowing this life-altering spinal cord injury to define him, Josh transformed his experience into a powerful force for change. As a quadriplegic, power wheelchair user, attorney, and passionate disability rights advocate, he has dedicated his life to empowering others and reshaping the landscape of independent living, accessibility, and policy reform.
Josh is the founder of Determined2Heal, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has mentored over 4,000 families navigating life with paralysis. He also serves as the Executive Director of SPINALpedia, the world’s largest video mentoring network for the paralysis community, housing over 38,000 videos that foster independence, education, and peer support.
As a trial attorney, Josh spent over a decade at Jack H. Olender & Associates, zealously advocating for clients in complex medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases, securing multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for those in need. His legal expertise extends beyond the courtroom—he has played a critical role in shaping disability legislation, notably championing Maryland’s Willing to Work campaign and successfully passing SB 660 and HB 1280, which enhanced employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Appointed to the Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) by Governors Hogan and Moore, Josh tirelessly works to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the resources and rights to live independently in their communities. His journey and advocacy have been featured in The Washington Post, and his influence extends nationally through his leadership on the Board of Directors for the United Spinal Association, the largest nonprofit supporting individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders.
Josh’s resilience, innovation, and commitment to breaking barriers continue to inspire and create meaningful change. Whether mentoring newly injured families, shaping public policy, or advancing disability rights through litigation, his mission remains clear: empower, educate, and advocate.