Nicholas D'Agostino

Nicholas Albert "Nick" D'Agostino (born August 15, 1989) is an American motivational speaker, author, coach, radio host, nonprofit founder, and entrepreneur from Wantage, New Jersey. Along with his identical twin brother, Anthony, he was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at 18 months old and confined to an electric wheelchair at the age of 6. His parents, Albert and Susan D'Agostino, ensured that his life was as normal as possible growing up. Due to having scoliosis, he received a full posterior stainless steel rod around his spine at the age of 8, developed a staph infection, and spent the summer of 1998 on intravenous antibiotics, finally recovering. Currently, he advocates for others. At the age of 15, D'Agostino began writing poetry. Since then, he has performed his spoken word orations at hundreds of shows, benefits, and open mics. On June 18, 2010, he performed his poem "My Heroine" at the March Against Heroin to hundreds of people, including addicts and recovering addicts, at Mountain Creek, in Vernon, New Jersey. Months later, on September 6, 2010, Nicholas traveled to Manhattan, and was featured on the MDA Show of Strength, where he performed his poem "Gravity," and in doing so, openly proclaimed his belief in God and Christianity. The live performance "was seen by 80 million people worldwide and raised nearly 1 million dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association," according to Nicholas' 2nd cousin, Tony Orlando, who was hosting the television segment. On September 3, 2012, D'Agostino, alongside his brother Anthony, launched his own online radio show called ANTagoNICKs, which had 71 episodes, and numerous shows with over 1,000 listeners. On November 11, 2012, D'Agostino founded The Safe Heaven, a nonprofit organization which focuses on “helping people realize their potential and self-worth.” Through an online forum, their social media sites, and local events, The Safe Heaven has interacted with thousands of individuals. Currently, D'Agostino is booking speaking engagements on the East Coast at high schools, colleges, businesses, churches, rehabilitation facilities, conferences, and prisons.