After life-altering collision, grad committed to healing self, lifting others

April 17, 2026 — DENTON —  Daquan Minor remembers vividly the day a surgeon told him that he’d never walk again.

In 2013, Minor was a backseat passenger in a car that was involved in a major collision and suffered a fractured skull and severe spinal injury. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.

On May 3, during a Texas Woman's University-Houston commencement ceremony – and in front of an audience of thousands – the 29-year-old Doctor of Occupational Therapy candidate will stand up from his wheelchair and walk across the stage to accept his diploma.

It’s been a challenging road to recovery – one that is ongoing and which will always have limits on his mobility – but Minor says it hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his academic and career goals.

“After my hospital recovery, I decided I wanted to be a part of saving people’s lives,” Minor said, noting that an initial desire to become an EMT evolved into a dream of being an occupational therapist.

“I could still be an asset as an OT,” he added.

Although technically paralyzed in both legs – he has no sensation in either limb – his legs can move with the help of a device that uses electrical stimulation to activate nerves.

“The system doesn’t restore full, independent walking but it does enable me to stand and take steps in a more controlled and functional way by activating specific muscles,” Minor said, adding that the device allows him to walk short distances.

He recounted the sometimes-grueling days of therapy aimed at improving or maintaining his functional skills needed for day-to-day living. It was the many therapists he encountered over years of recovery that he credits with helping keep him motivated and focused.

“People don’t really realize how helpful other people are during your health journey … they played a huge role in my success,” Minor said.

Almost to a person, he recalled, his therapists received their education and training while they were students at Texas Woman’s University’s Houston campus. It was through that series of encounters with professional therapists that he decided he wanted to pursue occupational therapy.

“When I made that decision, I only applied to one school – Texas Woman’s University. These individuals who were part of my journey were a great team, and I wanted to follow their path,” he said.

He remembers the impact that each of his therapists had on him and his ability to recover physically and mentally.

“The recovery process is not just physical, it’s psychological – you have to have the right mindset to go through it,” Minor said.

He recalled that more than one of his therapists encouraged him to participate in a wheelchair basketball league.

As a three-sport star athlete in high school, it was difficult to accept he wouldn’t be able to participate in football and the high jump following the accident.

Turned out that wheelchair basketball was exceptional therapy for Minor – physically and mentally. In two separate seasons, he played on teams that won national championships.

After that second championship, Minor turned his focus on continuing his educational journey.

“I was ready to stop so I could focus on my school and my health,” he said.

Minor approached his graduate studies much the same way he did his own personal therapy sessions: All in.

“Daquan is a gem on and off campus,” said Charlene Adams, EdD, assistant director of Student Life at TWU’s Houston campus, who got to know Minor when he entered the OTD program. “He easily engages with students and staff and serves as a mentor to new students. They look up to him because he willingly shares information and encourages them. He’s an example of what it means to be a true advocate for others.”

Minor’s engaging personality made him quite popular at the Houston campus.

“Anyone in the TWU Houston community who knows Daquan recognizes him as an incredibly determined and inspiring individual,” added Keithchell Taylor, executive assistant to Houston campus President Monica Williams. “His work ethic and perseverance leave a lasting impression on students, faculty and staff alike.”

And his service extends beyond campus. Minor serves on two different hospital advisory councils aimed at improving patient experiences.

He recognizes that, over time, he might become more limited in terms of the physical demands for being an occupational therapist, so he plans to be a practicing OT while he continues his education.

Minor sees himself eventually working as a hospital administrator. He plans to return to TWU to pursue an MBA/Master of Health Administration dual degree.

“You can be a difference maker as a therapist and as a hospital administrator,” he said.

When he reflects now on his collective experiences involving recovery, Minor is philosophical about his direction in life.

“I think this injury happened to me so I could help others,” he said.