WOW April Spotlight: Reveca Torres of BACKBONES
- Sophia Masso
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
This month, Women on Wheels is proud to spotlight Reveca Torres, founder of BACKBONES and a fierce advocate for disability visibility, community-building, and equity for those with spinal cord injuries (SCI).
In a conversation with WOW founder Natàlia Méndez, Reveca shared the personal fire that fuels her work, the gaps she's determined to fill, and the power of community in redefining identity.
"It's something I feel like I need to do for our people."
For Reveca, advocacy isn't just a role, it's something deeply personal.
After sustaining a spinal cord injury at 13, she has spent most of her life navigating the world as a disabled woman. What began as a belief that awareness alone could spark change has evolved into a deeper understanding: progress is often slow, inconsistent, and requires persistent, intentional effort.
Still, she continues.
Not because anyone asked her to, but because she feels called to.
"I have a fire in me... it's something I have to do."
Building BACKBONES and Finding Herself in the Process
Reveca founded BACKBONES with the intention of helping others, but she found that the community transformed her too.
Creating space for people with shared lived expe
riences gave her something she didn't realize she needed: connection, understanding, and freedom to explore parts of herself she once felt afraid to access.
"I started BACKBONES thinking I was helping people, but it actually helped me more than I thought it would."
Through community, she found confidence. Through connection, she found expansion.
Filling the Gaps That Still Exist
A major focus of Reveca's work is addressing who is missing from the conversation.
She speaks candidly about the communities that continue to be overlooked in SCI spaces—women, LGBTQ+ individuals, non-English communities, and Indigenous populations. For many, access to information, care, and support is still limited or nonexistent.
Having grown up translating and advocating for her own Spanish-speaking family, this issue is personal. There's something special that comes along with having a doctor who can speak the same language as you and those supporting you on your health journey—questions answered without confusion.
"The most discouraging thing is to look for a resource and it doesn't exist."
Reveca envisions a future where everyone—regardless of language, identity, or background—has access to the information and care they deserve.
Why Data Matters
Beyond community-building, Reveca highlights a critical systemic issue: the lack of accurate data.
Without inclusive and comprehensive data, entire populations remain invisible, impacting everything from policy to medical access. She shared her own experience being denied osteoporosis medication due to insufficient data on women with SCI.
"Because there's no data, I can't have this medication."
Her story underscores a larger truth: representation in data isn't just about numbers, it directly affects care, resources, and quality of life.
"Disability is complex, but not all-encompassing."
When asked what she wishes more people understood about disability, Reveca offered a powerful reframing:
Disability is a significant part of her identity, but it does not define her entirely.
It is complex, layered, and deeply human.
And, most importantly, it is something she has grown to take pride in.
Advice to Women with Disabilities: Find Your People
Reveca's advice is simple, but profound: Find community, and find it early.
She reflects on how connecting with other disabled individuals transformed her confidence, her self-image, and her sense of belonging.
"We deserve to feel good, confident, beautiful, sexy—all of that. And society doesn't usually tell us that we are."
Through community, that narrative can change.
Continuing the Work, Together
Reveca's story is a reminder that advocacy is both personal and collective. It's about showing up for yourself, for your community, and for those who have yet to be seen or heard.
At Women on Wheels, we are honored to spotlight leaders like Reveca who are not only creating change but building spaces where others can thrive within it.
To learn more about Reveca Torres & her organization, visit the following websites: https://www.revecatorres.com/ and https://www.backbonesonline.org/
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