2009 Robert Ross MDA National Personal Achievement Award Recipient

Tom Bush, 66, lives in Oro Valley, Ariz., with his wife, Tina. The Bushes raised four children and have three grandchildren. In 1949, Bush received a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy; the diagnosis was genetically confirmed in 1996 as spinal muscular atrophy. He uses a power wheelchair and drives a specially adapted van for mobility.

Bush had a 30-year career with the state of New Jersey, retiring in 1993 as director of the Office of Disabilities Management. Prior to his retirement, he managed the implementation of the provisions of the then newly enacted Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) within New Jersey state government. From New Jersey, Bush moved to Arizona and began a 10-year career at MDA National Headquarters, where he developed, operated and managed MDA’s national Web site, www.mda.org.

Bush has long been a leader with MDA. He served on the Tucson MDA Task Force on Public Awareness and worked with the MDA National Task Force on Public Awareness. He also has made several appearances on the national broadcast of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.

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