BJ Stasio is a strong self-advocate who lives in Buffalo, New York with his wife. He has served as Self-Advocacy Coordinator with the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) for more than 20 years. His work is focused on person-centered planning, trainings, and voting issues for people with disabilities. BJ is Co-Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS).

BJ has been a leader in disability advocacy, co-developing a training curriculum called The Art of Advocacy and a non-profit organization, Buffalo Racin’, focused on getting people with disabilities involved in 5k races. He has served on the Board of the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York and the Disability History Museum. 

He is passionate about making his community accessible for people with disabilities, including the Buffal-O Ferris Wheel at RiverWorks. BJ has an Associate’s Degree of Science from Erie Community College.