I poured my heart and soul into serving as the National Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I have had my life shaped in great ways on many different occasions. Aside from the birth of my two boys and raising them, no other single experience has changed my life in such a positive way as that role did.
Public speaking and vulnerably sharing my story about my lifelong journey as a disabled person used to be two things that used to caused me great anxiety. My role as the National Ambassador was full of moments like that, and guess what? I learned to face my fears, and the more I did those things, the more I realized that by facing the things that caused me the most fear and anxiety, I was changed for the better.

I learned that standing up and speaking, sharing my story as someone living with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, it really wasn’t about me just getting through the speech, or writing the blog post. It was about who I was helping by doing those things.

As I transitioned out of the role of National Ambassador, I became excited for a new opportunity to share my story on a different level with my local newspaper. I hope to continue to raise awareness for those living with disabilities while sharing some past and present ups and downs of what life is like from my view. I grew up in Noblesville, so being able to share this with the community I was raised in is an honor for me.

How Exercise Helps People with Neuromuscular Disorders Stay Strong and Mobile

By Bob Barnett (March 27, 2025)

The article features Amy as a 50-year-old writer from Noblesville, IN, who has Bethlem Myopathy (a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy) and who experiences muscle weakness requiring multiple surgeries. She shares how she stays active through chair yoga, stretches, and a home workout setup with light weights and an underwater treadmill, noting that exercise helps reduce her stiffness, pain, and muscle tightness while putting her in a better mindset. Shinneman is also identified as a former Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

If I Only Knew: When My Diagnosis Set Me Free

By Dan Somers and Amy Shinneman (March 2024)

Advanced Rolfer® Dan Somers interviews his client, Amy Shinneman, who is the 2023 National Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), about her life with a type of muscular dystrophy called Bethlem Myopathy and how Rolfing® Structural Integration sessions have supported her body to be strong and balanced. They discuss the complex path to receiving the correct diagnosis, her triumphs in building the life and family that she desires, and her struggles when facing systemic ableism found throughout society.

MDA Quest Media is a comprehensive, award-winning adaptive lifestyle platform from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) focused on the neuromuscular and disability community. It provides content through a quarterly magazine, a monthly newsletter, a blog, and a podcast. Key content includes research updates, personal stories, and tools for independence. Amy has had the opportunity to provide input on several of these platforms during her roles as serving as an Ambassador.

Fighting Neuromuscular Disease Is a Team Sport

By Alan Hieber (March 15, 2022)

This article shares Amy Shinneman's story as a person with Bethlem Myopathy (a form of muscular dystrophy) and her involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Team Momentum charity running group. She explains how participating in fundraising races like marathons helps support MDA's care centers, summer camps, and research while fostering a sense of community and inclusion among people living with neuromuscular diseases. The piece emphasizes that fighting neuromuscular disease requires a team approach, bringing together patients, families, and advocates working toward shared goals of empowerment and research funding.