All posts tagged in: advocacy

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Special Events

Dec 03

1085 Views

Celebrate and Advocate with Disability Pride Philadelphia

Editor’s Note: When Vicki Landers, a person with a disability with bipolar disorder, became involved with Philadelphia’s Center for Independent Living, it led to her discovery of an accessible art studio in the city that she began spending time ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Entertainment · Music · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

May 24

2064 Views

Hip Hop Duo 4 Wheel City Speaks Out Against Gun Violence

Editor’s Note:  When he was a teenager, Rick Velasquez emigrated from Honduras to the Bronx with his family in search of the American dream. Shortly after, the dream turned into a nightmare when he was hit by a stray bullet while walking down the ...

Betsy Bailey · Entertainment · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Apr 08

1703 Views

Donna On The Go: Creating Awareness through Humor

Editor’s Note:  Both Donna Russo and Peggy Lane have been involved in the entertainment industry for the majority of their lives. Russo, who lives with Turner syndrome and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, has a degree in dance, toured with ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Special Events

Mar 27

1973 Views

Calling Filmmakers, Writers, and Actors: Join the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge!

Having started his career at an early age, actor and comedian Nic Novicki (you may have seen him in Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, or Drop Dead Diva to name a few) noticed he was often the only one on set with a disability. This glaringly obvious ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Wheel:Life

Mar 06

1827 Views

Tammy Duckworth, Disabled Veteran and Senator, Talks about Injury, Advocacy, and Motherhood

Editor’s Note:  During deployment in 2004 as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Iraq, Tammy Duckworth lost both of her legs when her aircraft was struck. Harnessing her desire to continue serving her country, the Purple Heart recipient began ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Assistive Technology · Exercise · Health · Special Events · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Feb 08

1594 Views

Five February Events Celebrating the Disability Community

February is a short month, but that doesn’t mean there’s no time for educational activities, fundraising, and fun! If you’re looking for ways to get involved in celebrating and supporting the disability community this month, consider one of ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Jan 14

2126 Views

NorCal SCI: Helping People Navigate Through Post-Injury Challenges

Editor’s Note:  When Franklin Elieh and Nick Struthers, both living with spinal cord injury, met while doing volunteer peer support work at a hospital in northern California, they discovered there was a major gap in service for newly discharged ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Exercise · Special Events · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair Sports

Nov 02

2265 Views

5 Adaptive and Advocacy Events You Shouldn’t Miss This November

This November boasts many reasons and ways to get active. By exercising our bodies, we can burn off those Halloween candy calories and a little extra in preparation for all of the upcoming holiday feasts. But this month also provides opportunities ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Oct 26

3208 Views

Gaelynn Lea is Changing the Music World in More Ways Than One

Editor’s Note:  When an orchestra performed at her school, 10-year-old Gaelynn Lea decided she wanted to learn to play the violin. However, as an electric wheelchair user born with osteogenesis imperfecta, she couldn’t hold the instrument the ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Special Events · Wheel:Life

Oct 01

4486 Views

It’s Disability Awareness Month! Here’s What’s Happening Near You This October

In late summer of 1945, as World War II was coming to an end, President Harry S. Truman officially designated the first week in October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. As awareness increased over the years, the annual week-long ...

Betsy Bailey · Advocacy · Wheel:Life

Sep 20

3212 Views

Causes for Change: Making a Difference at Home and Abroad

Editor’s Note:  As an infant, Zully JF Alvarado contracted polio, but at the time, the villagers in her home country of Ecuador didn’t have the resources or knowledge to properly diagnose her condition. When a priest on a mission trip took ...

Betsy Bailey · Assistive Technology · Cerebral Palsy · Wheelchair

Sep 11

3242 Views

Chris Lenart on Life With Cerebral Palsy and DisabilityAwareness.us

Editor’s Note:  After a difficult childbirth in which both baby and mother’s lives were in danger, Chris Lenart’s parents discovered he had cerebral palsy shortly after. In an era where children with disabilities were often institutionalized ...

Betsy Bailey · Special Events · Wheelchair

Sep 06

6111 Views

Ms. Wheelchair America: Empowering Women, Shaping Leaders

Editor’s Note:  Over three decades ago, Michigander Shelly Loose swerved in her car to avoid hitting a deer and broke her neck. After several months of rehabilitation in the hospital, she was released and returned home as a wheelchair user. In ...

Betsy Bailey · Spina Bifida · Spinal Cord Injury · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Aug 11

6894 Views

Two SpeediCath Users Tell Wheel:Life Their Stories

When Wheel:Life learned that two Coloplast SpeediCath users would be featured on an upcoming episode of Access Health, we wanted to take the opportunity to share their amazing stories with the Wheel:Life community. Get to know Tatiana Lee and Kirk ...

Monica Manley · Spinal Cord Injury · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair · Youth Programs

Nov 10

3424 Views

Advocating for Disability Rights with Stephanie Woodward and CDR

Editor’s Note: During a summer internship at the Center for Disability Rights, Stephanie Woodward attended her first protest to advocate against personal attendant budget cuts. When the chant leader’s voice started to tire, Stephanie ...

Monica Manley · Community Partners · Special Events · Spinal Cord Injury · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Oct 09

3416 Views

Get Ready for Rolling With Me’s Each By Name Conference

Wheel:Life, Comfort Medical, and Rolling With Me is excited to announce that Comfort Medical will be sponsoring Rolling With Me’s Second Annual “Each By Name,” conference. This conference informs, engages, and empowers women of all abilities. ...

Monica Manley · Rehabilitation Programs · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair · Youth Programs

Jul 21

4539 Views

How the SCRS-IL Can Help You Live Independently

Editor’s Note: When triple degree holder Jose Gonzalez returned home after living abroad, he was struggling to find a job and wondering what to do next with his life. After applying for services with the California Department of Rehabilitation, a ...

Monica Manley · Wheel:Life

Jun 21

3982 Views

Rick Hayden Rolls on Capitol Hill for Your Rights

When Rick Hayden visited the US Capitol last week, he went with your well-being in mind, and he took nearly 200 like-minded friends with him to advocate on your behalf!  Those friends included several famous faces like the Rollettes dance team, as ...

lisagetsocial · Community Partners · Special Offers · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Nov 08

2841 Views

Get Your Ticket to Work: Help for Job Hunting on Wheels

Editor’s Note: Many people with disabilities want to become independent. However, often barriers may exist, and one of those barriers may be finding meaningful employment. But if you want a job, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a ...

lisagetsocial · Assistive Technology · Cerebral Palsy · Medical Devices · Rehabilitation Programs · Wheel:Life · Wheelchair

Sep 29

3919 Views

Act Now: Medicare Cuts to CRT Will Impact Your Wheelchair Access

Editor’s Note: Wheel:Life is a strong advocate for all of our readers nationwide who depend on wheelchairs for daily mobility and independence. We feel it’s important to keep you informed of health insurance issues that may limit or impede your ...