Biography
Jennifer Kumiyama is an American actor, singer and disability rights activist based in Long Beach, California. Born on 21 February 1980 in Riverside, California, she has arthrogryposis and uses a wheelchair. She trained in voice at Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach.
Kumiyama began her career with an appearance on the Warner Bros. reality series Popstars 2 in 2000. From 2002 to 2016 she performed in the stage show Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disney California Adventure, becoming the first Disney actor to appear onstage in a wheelchair. She played Carmen in the 2012 film The Sessions and voiced Dahlia, also contributing to the soundtrack, in Disney’s 2023 animated feature Wish. She has also appeared in the television series Awkward. (2012).
Kumiyama was crowned Ms. Wheelchair California in 2010. She serves as the Citywide Accessibility Coordinator for the City of Long Beach.
