As Ms. Wheelchair America 2016, Dr. Alette Coble-Temple is eager to serve the community and provide mentorship for successful living with a disability across the nation. Her platform PRIDE: Parental Rights Includes Disability Equality is to transform social response, advance public policy, and strengthen community collaborations for people with disabilities in their quest of parenthood.

 

Dr. Alette Coble-Temple competed for Ms. Wheelchair America from July 27th through August 2nd in Des Moines, Iowa. She represented the state of California alongside 24 other state titleholders. The weeklong competition required Dr. Coble-Temple to demonstrate an ability to advocate for people with disabilities across the nation. She was judged through a series of interviews, participation in pageant workshops, her presence and public poise, and the substance of her platform speech. Dr. Coble-Temple was awarded the Ms. Wheelchair America 2016 People's Choice Award and the ultimate title of Ms. Wheelchair America 2016. While traveling the country, Dr. Coble-Temple will empower and serve as a mentor to the disability community as a whole.

 

At birth, Dr. Coble-Temple was given a 10% chance of surviving. She survived and lives each moment to the fullest. As a child she was required to attend a special school for the disabled until she rebelled at the end of fourth grade and told her parents she was striking going to school until she could attend the school four blocks from her neighborhood home. With the support of her parents, they fought the local school district and at the beginning of fifth grade, Dr. Coble-Temple was fully mainstreamed at Almond Elementary. She graduated from Los Altos High School in 1989 where she gave the student commencement speech. Dr. Coble-Temple attended Santa Clara University where she earned her Bachelors in Psychology in 1993. While at Santa Clara University, she founded the first support group for students with disabilities and became the first physically disabled student to live on campus and become a member of the Zeta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Gama Sorority.

 

In 1993, Dr. Coble-Temple relocated to Walnut Creek, California, in order to attend John F. Kennedy University (JFK University) to pursue a master's degree in sport psychology. She earned her degree in eighteen months and was voted most outstanding student for JFK University in 1995. In 1996 she returned to JFK University to be in the inaugural PsyD class. By 1999 she earned her doctorate in psychology and again was named the outstanding student of the year.

 

Dr. Coble-Temple became a licensed psychologist in 2001. She has worked in the areas of disability research, and provided clinical practice to a variety of populations especially children, adolescence, and families within the legal system.

 

Advocacy, mentorship, and adventure guide Dr. Coble-Temple's teaching philosophy in her role as advocate, professor, and licensed psychologist. Dr. Coble-Temple joined the PsyD faculty the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at John F. Kennedy University in 2004 and became a full professor in 2014. Dr. Coble-Temple also serves as an independent evaluator for the Board of Parole Hearings for the State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

 

Professionally, Dr. Coble-Temple is a member of the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology. In January 2015, she was elected to serve a 3-year term on the Committee for Women in Psychology as part of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Coble-Temple has received multiple awards including the 2013 Faculty Member of the Year and the City of Concord Human Relations Commissions Education and Awareness Award. She is routinely asked to provide keynote addresses at national conventions and provide training for businesses.

 

When Dr. Coble-Temple is not working, her passion shifts to her family. She serves as the co-leader of her 11 year old daughter's Girl Scout troop. Personally, Dr. Coble-Temple attempts to create as many opportunities for adventure in her life. She loves to travel, snow ski, swim, and explore museums.