tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14392735288536870452024-03-17T21:00:32.616-07:00Urban Travel, Sustainability & AccessibilitySteve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.comBlogger4066125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-89127468876223087672024-03-17T21:00:00.000-07:002024-03-17T21:00:00.136-07:00MUSEUM HOPPING IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">MOTOR CITY WHEELCHAIR MOBILITY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfllz7IoYK6RipzCtgZ5gU4_YW_eeJLZuDy9ACo-hseoJRDfESSYjrh6Xv8AToOvJNTBvFtTj92KJBjodQu3BiPDv_8BVRKoVbJQnuXizRgHRCD1uy51JwEMAF-PmKEhMoNYpAMk3hobJiinoRcZMxU7Kh9K-8-c-P8uF30F0CXIdRub4p-DlFPkiGPxE/s3891/The%20DDP's%20Capitol%20Park%20has%20sparked%20new%20apartments%20in%20old%20buildings.%20The%20walk%20only%20zone%20makes%20it%20safe%20for%20wheelers%20by%20banning%20scooters%20bikes,%20skates.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2918" data-original-width="3891" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfllz7IoYK6RipzCtgZ5gU4_YW_eeJLZuDy9ACo-hseoJRDfESSYjrh6Xv8AToOvJNTBvFtTj92KJBjodQu3BiPDv_8BVRKoVbJQnuXizRgHRCD1uy51JwEMAF-PmKEhMoNYpAMk3hobJiinoRcZMxU7Kh9K-8-c-P8uF30F0CXIdRub4p-DlFPkiGPxE/w640-h480/The%20DDP's%20Capitol%20Park%20has%20sparked%20new%20apartments%20in%20old%20buildings.%20The%20walk%20only%20zone%20makes%20it%20safe%20for%20wheelers%20by%20banning%20scooters%20bikes,%20skates.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />For several
decades, some very bad policy, politics and the loss of tens of thousands of
good jobs placed Detroit pretty low on many people’s travel lists.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Much has
changed, especially for those who love urban vacations highlighted by historic
architecture, world-class museums, countless entertainment and sports venues,
eclectic eats and reliable public transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">All this
and other amenities give Detroit an enduring sense of place and significance
befitting a great American city. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The core of
Detroit is thriving and surprisingly accessible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">And yes,
for those who ask — the streets are safe, even far into the night<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Woodward
Avenue is an excellent place for any wheelchair user to start exploring
downtown Detroit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Often
referred to as “Detroit’s Main Street,” Woodward runs 27 miles from the
Riverfront to Pontiac, Michigan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Over a
century after making history with the first mile of concrete-paved road in
America in 1909, Woodward now is ideal for wheelchair users, with wide
sidewalks and densely packed attractions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-72187604409299357702024-03-16T21:00:00.004-07:002024-03-17T07:31:35.551-07:00 I HAVE AN IMDB ENTRY<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">NEVER
THOUGHT I’D BE ON INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfy6kIlj7pKZmpVhTcAsoM41GcITVJh1TMLTkeREWoQAh9fS8q5nP_RJ5phFZxF65GsJ5PLuYS6fXfwThFm_gZZ1iACgtKVOUavYn1UjLT8kvzOUP8S3U5Kp6CezUPZGWDJN6ESZSUI-OqhZ-0LTRzagcd0uB01Ofd7ePbRAB051IDzdZ6dFUTDAN0cU/s2048/Mark%20A%20call%20to%20action%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1303" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfy6kIlj7pKZmpVhTcAsoM41GcITVJh1TMLTkeREWoQAh9fS8q5nP_RJ5phFZxF65GsJ5PLuYS6fXfwThFm_gZZ1iACgtKVOUavYn1UjLT8kvzOUP8S3U5Kp6CezUPZGWDJN6ESZSUI-OqhZ-0LTRzagcd0uB01Ofd7ePbRAB051IDzdZ6dFUTDAN0cU/w255-h400/Mark%20A%20call%20to%20action%20poster.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks to
Ron Small, Paul Bookman and the wonderful team making the documentary
“Mark – A Call to Action” – I’m on IMDB.<o:p></o:p></span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I appear in
the 90-minute film portraying a life well-lived by Ivy League-educated global disability
leader/influencer Mark Bookman. Mark achieved 100 years of brilliance in a life
the ended at age 31.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">To continue his
legacy of inclusive design and much more, I’m on camera talking about the positives
– from safer pedestrian mobility to aging in place – that come with Universal
Design and town planning that includes people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">As a cast
member, I have a brief listing on IMDB – one of the 50 most-visited sites on
the internet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The film
debuts in Tokyo in February. I hope to be there – with the team that has made
me a part of the family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26931769/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm" target="_blank">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26931769/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm</a></p>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tk8fKAJxo" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tk8fKAJxo</a><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPZsKNjqIbyTmFPwfdZaspDs3_GqNw25i-vWGhp8tQn9YVFs6wpeKUNdrHwCrslVoSRaGK_UTzGaSGBuvJDpkv3TO6_lwrGWxPWbe8DSeY8j8bE92dEf23OLtdLjRMr_w_AQtemZrheqGy9Alzzy3jwqdfBhy163_j3_q0b4qRAH-JCwFdNi9aek6kbw/s4032/PBS%20Bookman%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPZsKNjqIbyTmFPwfdZaspDs3_GqNw25i-vWGhp8tQn9YVFs6wpeKUNdrHwCrslVoSRaGK_UTzGaSGBuvJDpkv3TO6_lwrGWxPWbe8DSeY8j8bE92dEf23OLtdLjRMr_w_AQtemZrheqGy9Alzzy3jwqdfBhy163_j3_q0b4qRAH-JCwFdNi9aek6kbw/w640-h480/PBS%20Bookman%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-90347920686245841932024-03-15T23:30:00.000-07:002024-03-15T23:30:00.137-07:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuZtbxtIRgwNupSNV7Ro-ylwqs-wvER5yKyIdz2jiBBl43-vAyBj1l9bx_eQ2mIKya5IHVQhAxsCGlB4BY5jEAM39C97loDvGx4v8rh4mlEiRzOW_7iIEEUMwlRqWMlP-CqunQDyJD00UZm_RzfE7I_zBZPJUXHL7a9Qz__ieNhk-XmXHN65eyVivEbo/s1818/logo%20usa.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="1818" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuZtbxtIRgwNupSNV7Ro-ylwqs-wvER5yKyIdz2jiBBl43-vAyBj1l9bx_eQ2mIKya5IHVQhAxsCGlB4BY5jEAM39C97loDvGx4v8rh4mlEiRzOW_7iIEEUMwlRqWMlP-CqunQDyJD00UZm_RzfE7I_zBZPJUXHL7a9Qz__ieNhk-XmXHN65eyVivEbo/w640-h158/logo%20usa.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Ultimately, Sarah found an affordable unit to rent
that is accessible to enter and adaptable inside.</span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She lives in a temperate
rural area – which is good for managing her MS.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With her resiliency restored and United Spinal in
her corner, Sarah is ready to begin sharing her story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She wants the government to address disability not
with assisted suicide but with meaningful access to housing, transportation,
employment, education, plus health and attendant care.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She has picked up the advocacy megaphone again and
is grateful to United Spinal for saving her life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p style="background-color: black;"> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-7748602203982302262024-03-14T23:00:00.000-07:002024-03-14T23:00:00.148-07:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMWDZeLkmIYWCGJ-ZIXxOWHRzTL23q6QgLl4NEf1fy9MKij6zHmHMkLxcMngAlxHSue8uiIIrV4c-N4BNdZ_3reSWHx9nbveM04eMpscehr-rv0fRojG2oriXYmsuetY0DFsJ6apCInGdc6bJtKKwQf1MRsrHp53SvV41M6XhaPppUZw1DUq4SUjlIvo/s300/WC%20sui%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMWDZeLkmIYWCGJ-ZIXxOWHRzTL23q6QgLl4NEf1fy9MKij6zHmHMkLxcMngAlxHSue8uiIIrV4c-N4BNdZ_3reSWHx9nbveM04eMpscehr-rv0fRojG2oriXYmsuetY0DFsJ6apCInGdc6bJtKKwQf1MRsrHp53SvV41M6XhaPppUZw1DUq4SUjlIvo/w400-h224/WC%20sui%2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“It’s not that she wanted to do it, but she couldn’t
find any way to sustain herself. Matt, Jane and I had a Zoom call with her,”
Steve said of Sarah’s contemplating the end of her life. </span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“It was a very tearful
conversation, where we basically assured her, ‘You are safe in our hands —
you do not need to take that drastic step of going up to Vermont to surrender
to death.’”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“She was like, ‘OK, I see you’re in my corner,
you’re going to fight with and for me and help me,’” said Steve, noting the
team then started researching every potential solution and making calls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“In the end, she did a lot of work on her
own. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Our role in this particular case was to be human, passionate
and empathetic.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-11354963546999906382024-03-13T22:30:00.000-07:002024-03-13T22:30:00.142-07:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVP7-xlSSRPmX9sSbeH-6_ikEZ4SxKjwdGJ0x6bDUFOBJu2bUceQFexr4eckDyOH_bi3qRgPxx8p_uN56XQ4lTCcK6Y3Xh5xVCPNL7TT3Tx_SOiKSc2jqOVkybEFRzMx5bqNfy0cfqWBdsxzTYmKS0d-nfGsJB0Myp92mwpKPELG-h3qhnba7mB-z_ps/s287/Stephen-Lieberman-thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="262" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVP7-xlSSRPmX9sSbeH-6_ikEZ4SxKjwdGJ0x6bDUFOBJu2bUceQFexr4eckDyOH_bi3qRgPxx8p_uN56XQ4lTCcK6Y3Xh5xVCPNL7TT3Tx_SOiKSc2jqOVkybEFRzMx5bqNfy0cfqWBdsxzTYmKS0d-nfGsJB0Myp92mwpKPELG-h3qhnba7mB-z_ps/w365-h400/Stephen-Lieberman-thumbnail.jpg" width="365" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Working with an acclaimed disability rights and
inclusion advocate who now had a disability and was running out of options
resonated with Matt.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Our team works hard to break down barriers.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But we
also have an empathetic ear.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I gave Sarah my cell number. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She called at 9 p.m.
sometimes.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t want someone to feel that isolation and disconnection that I
felt post-injury,” says Matt, a C6 quadriplegic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Steve, who has been instrumental in expanding United
Spinal’s grassroots network of member-advocates in virtually every
Congressional district, knew Sarah from her days as a fierce advocate.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They had
lost contact for a couple of years, and then he found his brilliant and
resourceful friend contemplating a path toward exiting from life.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-47372035290305070342024-03-12T22:00:00.000-07:002024-03-12T22:00:00.137-07:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x5Z9wJ0pZag0m3FF3b3Lp7Ki91I2Ezdh_NmV5cNJxxtwCeBGcujs2vLzT0Vz4RWMvuD5rIcEWkf_6qg2a0g3AHqnyeo7l0BPYNqVF8fyT55SrEULlbQ3u9SXYgOYaW_D5qUvMbvvkD7K27OjPsKTUm8JcrGX191Pq1r0WrIe6EypS2X5L7PX3jWOLxQ/s450/Matt%20Casteluccio%20USA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x5Z9wJ0pZag0m3FF3b3Lp7Ki91I2Ezdh_NmV5cNJxxtwCeBGcujs2vLzT0Vz4RWMvuD5rIcEWkf_6qg2a0g3AHqnyeo7l0BPYNqVF8fyT55SrEULlbQ3u9SXYgOYaW_D5qUvMbvvkD7K27OjPsKTUm8JcrGX191Pq1r0WrIe6EypS2X5L7PX3jWOLxQ/w400-h266/Matt%20Casteluccio%20USA.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Sarah’s lifetime of advocacy familiarized her with
United Spinal, especially its Community Support group, formerly the Resource
Center.</span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After the webinar, she reached out and soon had a whole team behind
her: Matt Castelluccio, Vice President of Community Support; Lindsey
Elliott, Senior Director of Community and Peer Support; Stephen Lieberman,
Director, Advocacy & Policy; and Jane Wierbicky, Nurse Information
Specialist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Some organizations meant to help people are
short-staffed, so the person seeking assistance gets passed from one resource
to another.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or they reach voicemail, not a person,” says Jane. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“What sets us
apart is that we are a small team, but we try to get people on the phone to
hear them out. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We are not miracle workers but doing it with passion and human
feeling is what people get from United Spinal.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-21897625278167296952024-03-11T21:30:00.000-07:002024-03-11T21:30:00.130-07:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc3CXFx1oPnSaP2JBG8P65NuxnuNXhyfMTHKf2ttiPDu3Pq_jKRjrPQOieESv_6bHuM2AbEypOvtSDlLMLN681hwU3tZlz7tqh-qkzjojb3nb85k3nbOeKhYigdKCuyS2gIU5zl3gfsVPfGqgupiDy87tU5XLZgBDWRQAjFLEd4568NBfkZmEusHveB4/s297/wc%20sui%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="297" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc3CXFx1oPnSaP2JBG8P65NuxnuNXhyfMTHKf2ttiPDu3Pq_jKRjrPQOieESv_6bHuM2AbEypOvtSDlLMLN681hwU3tZlz7tqh-qkzjojb3nb85k3nbOeKhYigdKCuyS2gIU5zl3gfsVPfGqgupiDy87tU5XLZgBDWRQAjFLEd4568NBfkZmEusHveB4/w400-h229/wc%20sui%2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The six-member Community Support team is known for
having a heart. </span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They make personal connections, taking calls long past standard
business hours, blending expertise with the human factor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sarah and our Community Support team met each other
at an unlikely but ultimately timely place: </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A recent United Spinal webinar on
Assisted Suicide. United Spinal Association, along with other disability
organizations and individuals with disabilities, <a href="https://unitedspinal.org/united-spinal-association-declares-californias-assisted-suicide-law-unconstitutional-and-discriminatory/" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.15s linear 0s;"><span>filed a complaint against the State of California</span></a> in
the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on April 26,
2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Deeply moved by the presentations, Sarah spoke
against assisted suicide while praising United Spinal’s team for saving lives,
one at a time. Many lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It was not hyperbole.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-21020886435831904982024-03-10T21:00:00.000-07:002024-03-12T05:25:29.417-07:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwfVaMYwEAjFp208yxBOZh7OlWZeRR6ZB98rRZIb5w2-uW1_XSTV3_miLKkYwJBha4VCNWUDEkLzs_Mfl9PQJJ7LaWnqv9HJ-iRxSOjSLLrVjwVS_4UDiGbB2G-QY0bKA3GXMt9qc6OKpLLuR2BGBfblHx9kw_NEVzW0jaPFWkyimnABEP7-tPVqtomM/s275/WC%20sui%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwfVaMYwEAjFp208yxBOZh7OlWZeRR6ZB98rRZIb5w2-uW1_XSTV3_miLKkYwJBha4VCNWUDEkLzs_Mfl9PQJJ7LaWnqv9HJ-iRxSOjSLLrVjwVS_4UDiGbB2G-QY0bKA3GXMt9qc6OKpLLuR2BGBfblHx9kw_NEVzW0jaPFWkyimnABEP7-tPVqtomM/w400-h266/WC%20sui%205.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Sarah thought her only choice was
to pursue that final option.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“I researched accompanied dying, and I was aware
Vermont had passed a law to include even out-of-state residents, the first in
the nation,” said Sarah.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“I had rationalized I could take my time, drive to
Vermont, still have enough to get a little apartment and start identifying
doctors open to the idea (of facilitating her own assisted suicide).”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Enter United Spinal’s Community Support and Advocacy
programs. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This tight-knit crew is renowned for helping wheelchair users with a
host of issues, including housing, medical care, rehabilitation, attendant
care, applications for benefits and transportation. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They also help people cope
with the onset of brain and spinal cord injury or disease and numerous other
disability-related requests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p style="background-color: black;"> </o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-90499271508471961582024-03-09T21:00:00.004-08:002024-03-09T21:00:00.128-08:00MARK – A CALL TO ACTION<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">WORLD
PREMIERE OF DOCUMENTARY GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO REVIEW UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND
BARRIER FREE ACCESS IN TOKYO</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rlz_nYhtdbsbTYG-19l373-p-_11WPORh1aAY2NVk7d8aQKMesiHGt-O8d_bFnBNOyE1-sAWiTksLbdqOj8wQ9rRuP7wrBnXGcs5SD69WRug6iJekQeWcFfSWRKqsumrsNkBD9gQfaj_X5xZMUs52HeQLaiICLqGRWb_wvqkPlx4WtVdy2nn5pMxpg4/s680/Mark%20Bookman%20image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="680" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rlz_nYhtdbsbTYG-19l373-p-_11WPORh1aAY2NVk7d8aQKMesiHGt-O8d_bFnBNOyE1-sAWiTksLbdqOj8wQ9rRuP7wrBnXGcs5SD69WRug6iJekQeWcFfSWRKqsumrsNkBD9gQfaj_X5xZMUs52HeQLaiICLqGRWb_wvqkPlx4WtVdy2nn5pMxpg4/w640-h360/Mark%20Bookman%20image.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I documented
accessible trains, inclusive restrooms and other advances toward a better built
environment for people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The report
will be published this year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhULCxtkanQjrcd_5sjK9A2EU9r5JFGPGwDzrdejpkS2JPQiYKoOWkEmnJKAVJ5p3Yazl0QvHoEvdeV8YqevrWLf60mTgOOEs9kIRI_T6vkmJtEEV2KsKG27kL2blPtIGpgLHOdMRE9cuolDcPhKfzSKduUHEBRaZAbmSvIycJO8GESpByw1_PVCBua0g/s2173/SLW%20Tokyo%20--%20camera.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="2173" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhULCxtkanQjrcd_5sjK9A2EU9r5JFGPGwDzrdejpkS2JPQiYKoOWkEmnJKAVJ5p3Yazl0QvHoEvdeV8YqevrWLf60mTgOOEs9kIRI_T6vkmJtEEV2KsKG27kL2blPtIGpgLHOdMRE9cuolDcPhKfzSKduUHEBRaZAbmSvIycJO8GESpByw1_PVCBua0g/w400-h320/SLW%20Tokyo%20--%20camera.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I traveled
to Japan for a trio of world premieres of "Mark — A Call to Action,"
a disability forward documentary about the life of the late Mark Bookman.</span></span><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2oNcmKlQUow1LyDJYGcw5r0AqTrTdgFs52_LUxOmegpVUKm3YtEINWh5293V1kYsAJCUjGBW_5C2JqB_vf6-VQVW40gZ5_TfhFGfASxDhxmrKBungcPa0NZupT6hXpVVUS-qJaPrxwYbJAmh_V-cPEJBKwYqJij2PLm7LvaZAG0qsDesVZaqVYtehAs/s680/hongo%20premiere.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2oNcmKlQUow1LyDJYGcw5r0AqTrTdgFs52_LUxOmegpVUKm3YtEINWh5293V1kYsAJCUjGBW_5C2JqB_vf6-VQVW40gZ5_TfhFGfASxDhxmrKBungcPa0NZupT6hXpVVUS-qJaPrxwYbJAmh_V-cPEJBKwYqJij2PLm7LvaZAG0qsDesVZaqVYtehAs/w400-h320/hongo%20premiere.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I am in the
film, quoted as a Universal Design expert, that debuted at two campuses of the
prestigious University of Tokyo, as well as the esteemed Sophia University.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYj5mqRnZs-jEjMsG3DkM4mA9etvWgaG6NONnjkDvH1BWlR5wZcD3exFPMSkrBaWWmhpP4Ou4pVkln5QskfRcrMaqEjAfwTqonJz2JdqMR7Y2BVtbWwQTZEiXrHUPrD25IhP_iw83m-dAREw2p6K9Onm3xIzOixEyKY8wDKEDh6dvXxJRy4x0MIHKBi2o/s537/Paul%20and%20Wasa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="537" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYj5mqRnZs-jEjMsG3DkM4mA9etvWgaG6NONnjkDvH1BWlR5wZcD3exFPMSkrBaWWmhpP4Ou4pVkln5QskfRcrMaqEjAfwTqonJz2JdqMR7Y2BVtbWwQTZEiXrHUPrD25IhP_iw83m-dAREw2p6K9Onm3xIzOixEyKY8wDKEDh6dvXxJRy4x0MIHKBi2o/w400-h266/Paul%20and%20Wasa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I met so
many wonderful disability advocates, including Mark's dad -- Paul Bookman and
stepmom Wasna Dabbagh, both board members of the GLIDE Fund.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_tiHlH7t8Ih0qMJbIgy-YC8FzrfCHij4Pf9RrsOG1jEu6pnON6B2aTZOku_zYitIcRv9chINCnt1BK1C7ly0gjIbhR65cjG83hYPIx1NxuaQLMvosYgqchfkA2Z0R7KTJa7VWGfsRF-zTMiQUZdqG2FVF9Y4PRAAI29MWp8GEhGrjQR1DdKVr7Rc-Gc/s680/Nagase.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_tiHlH7t8Ih0qMJbIgy-YC8FzrfCHij4Pf9RrsOG1jEu6pnON6B2aTZOku_zYitIcRv9chINCnt1BK1C7ly0gjIbhR65cjG83hYPIx1NxuaQLMvosYgqchfkA2Z0R7KTJa7VWGfsRF-zTMiQUZdqG2FVF9Y4PRAAI29MWp8GEhGrjQR1DdKVr7Rc-Gc/w400-h320/Nagase.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It also was
an honor to meet two other acclaimed experts in the documentary film
-- Nagase Osamu, a professor at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, and
longtime disability rights advocate in Japan, and Carolyn Stevens, a
professor at Monash University in Melbourne, and longtime disability rights
advocate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpcnB5ZhIy5HkVpuMIysGYCDBvEKT-jyp3283831516dsAbeGRhb0i-HTeAN0Gk7Gk1bmJU7-NGKSXSJpxIju2ViKD95FxD2W2FR9POkvV5kbj5EizQJKkR7YpBJDy293RV9lEUymZN_1Hhs1F_T8qPMijzJPpQnPCOugKAoI5VZ6uzGKRUs1KfihQhs/s680/carolyn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpcnB5ZhIy5HkVpuMIysGYCDBvEKT-jyp3283831516dsAbeGRhb0i-HTeAN0Gk7Gk1bmJU7-NGKSXSJpxIju2ViKD95FxD2W2FR9POkvV5kbj5EizQJKkR7YpBJDy293RV9lEUymZN_1Hhs1F_T8qPMijzJPpQnPCOugKAoI5VZ6uzGKRUs1KfihQhs/w400-h320/carolyn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-42696268539482043872024-03-08T23:30:00.000-08:002024-03-08T23:30:00.143-08:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseDb_wPiwJe4QpQrjzBURmb85ppAWm3LvxYFueIvXpOUz-4mfZU5GqXsasgOj6-OXpNjiV-a3G8k0rhHgtsRAn6C7WDSI1Y0WRYHeiRnN3QyqGNunsFF4VLZ-utOC0asganMtTudB9Pz4U_muuoexeFIIcR9_gLg0S6QGN-rr-d26qAh-UKa_8NuCuC0/s277/WC%20sui%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseDb_wPiwJe4QpQrjzBURmb85ppAWm3LvxYFueIvXpOUz-4mfZU5GqXsasgOj6-OXpNjiV-a3G8k0rhHgtsRAn6C7WDSI1Y0WRYHeiRnN3QyqGNunsFF4VLZ-utOC0asganMtTudB9Pz4U_muuoexeFIIcR9_gLg0S6QGN-rr-d26qAh-UKa_8NuCuC0/w400-h263/WC%20sui%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />“I, too, am against assisted suicide,’ Sarah
emphatically said. </span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Like in <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/health-system-services/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2022.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.15s linear 0s;"><span>Canada</span></a>, where they are now encouraging people
with disabilities, depression, or financial deprivation to kill themselves.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not
because of constant pain with no relief. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">But because they are out of money, out
of accessible housing, out of medical care and resources.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-75927371598406724402024-03-07T22:30:00.000-08:002024-03-07T22:30:00.157-08:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1OkISMtayn53REmr8mKg34DRMbkouemC8CnO8BVDf1V_7wu6tbex0Ki6inv8Mow33RYYW9sDrt9vIuY32_ITyIW3pnftRSCFc1yOXeHb9sqS_acLzZg0G4HudELXAe7iSAl-y5ihk42C4k5pfqJ8dGCluPWOoFIxMR22t1N6yvTO-6UqtAFhBhqLEag/s300/Enzo-ROCH-22-296x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1OkISMtayn53REmr8mKg34DRMbkouemC8CnO8BVDf1V_7wu6tbex0Ki6inv8Mow33RYYW9sDrt9vIuY32_ITyIW3pnftRSCFc1yOXeHb9sqS_acLzZg0G4HudELXAe7iSAl-y5ihk42C4k5pfqJ8dGCluPWOoFIxMR22t1N6yvTO-6UqtAFhBhqLEag/w395-h400/Enzo-ROCH-22-296x300.jpg" width="395" /></a></b></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: white;">The resourceful, resilient Sarah, who had advocated
for others for a lifetime, was grieving deeply over the circumstances that put
her into logistical, financial homelessness. </span></span></p></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She had read United Spinal
President & CEO Vincenzo Piscopo’s letter against assisted suicide earlier
in the year and shared it with people and foundations but was left with her own
looming reality of having no place to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Many of our members are vulnerable to suicide and
can be victimized by Physician-Assisted Suicide statutes, especially while they
are adjusting to living with paralysis,” wrote Enzo in that letter.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“They need
long-term services and supports to live effectively in the community, and
assistance in dealing with depression that often causes suicidal ideation at
the onset of a traumatic disability.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-60320675288366949192024-03-06T22:00:00.000-08:002024-03-06T22:00:00.136-08:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUsTGTejs-nSfPz1Z_KNF8fmOHQx-Y3-Not0j_q1m8C4bPgL8uGCwAxUZFyFp5tJ9DGn-vOhcHr9WABhQ4l0RzwVk75xz-zuz1FV3isw3cJqTsMt7kRdGepxci6OBDHqG2i3ozZkL3sdqX88ZQGJgImxprhIBeH9IIMxFuKC1xdbdeQ_gDrMSj0PY6VY/s670/WC%20sui%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="670" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUsTGTejs-nSfPz1Z_KNF8fmOHQx-Y3-Not0j_q1m8C4bPgL8uGCwAxUZFyFp5tJ9DGn-vOhcHr9WABhQ4l0RzwVk75xz-zuz1FV3isw3cJqTsMt7kRdGepxci6OBDHqG2i3ozZkL3sdqX88ZQGJgImxprhIBeH9IIMxFuKC1xdbdeQ_gDrMSj0PY6VY/w400-h266/WC%20sui%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“I dealt with these challenges by reaching deep
inside to the unlit corners and turning it all over to God. Still, it — both MS
and ableism — hit me like a rock,” said Sarah. </span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She struggled with
post-traumatic stress syndrome, choosing only to discuss it with treating
medical professionals. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even so, she said, “I went through some awful
marginalization.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Society makes it very clear we don’t have a space
for people with disabilities. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We don’t really have a safety net in these United
States <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of prosperity</span></em> of America,” says Sarah, taking a
jab at a wealthy nation that fails at building enough affordable, move-in ready
accessible housing.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-5046578590129422412024-03-05T22:00:00.000-08:002024-03-05T22:00:00.136-08:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDpl11jnWQaQSEPJaHMhBGKnsSTmrW83PD2RCoBn_giDCK6hDXd3G5d4i822iTMQ7_TAv9evrRucmS7OrIxyjuiUmwkyO3QWoqvlag2520eykgtd6ewoa6V5k1NvswE2rHi6ldIfdnbB9Rycbi9J5HtfAngU8JuKPHoaRx2BnqXNR_bpphso7NSJmRvE/s310/WC%20sui%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDpl11jnWQaQSEPJaHMhBGKnsSTmrW83PD2RCoBn_giDCK6hDXd3G5d4i822iTMQ7_TAv9evrRucmS7OrIxyjuiUmwkyO3QWoqvlag2520eykgtd6ewoa6V5k1NvswE2rHi6ldIfdnbB9Rycbi9J5HtfAngU8JuKPHoaRx2BnqXNR_bpphso7NSJmRvE/w400-h210/WC%20sui%204.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />Post-diagnosis, Sarah endured substandard,
inaccessible housing in both rentals and home ownership.</span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She exhausted most of
her finances in pursuit of advanced medical care, and moved out of state,
partly because she had survived domestic violence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was a challenging time for a leader who had been
a problem solver for others for decades.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She had been involved with lawsuit
settlements to greatly improve sidewalks for wheelchair access and now had
trouble meeting her own basic needs.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">She couldn’t find accessible, affordable
housing anywhere in the country.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-19888065082840886132024-03-04T21:30:00.000-08:002024-03-04T21:30:00.140-08:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl68dJtD_bps41MkPZaW6WczWc2PeXEzyKGBEDHwfA70XjXQIFY120RrOi_quAOAKvm9S3Qj1w0derCZLZ__keuNwbgRcc1Nt79YmG5QnMtBv4FTYG5IcWbU7Iz1kDu5tBbLE5yx_mpRUuXirEuK4bVU3bmMQbJ0BsgC_hb7fJPVI2Bk7UZmEBiz5SK4/s1024/Assisted-Suicide-cartoon-copy-scaled-e1682606615146-1024x538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl68dJtD_bps41MkPZaW6WczWc2PeXEzyKGBEDHwfA70XjXQIFY120RrOi_quAOAKvm9S3Qj1w0derCZLZ__keuNwbgRcc1Nt79YmG5QnMtBv4FTYG5IcWbU7Iz1kDu5tBbLE5yx_mpRUuXirEuK4bVU3bmMQbJ0BsgC_hb7fJPVI2Bk7UZmEBiz5SK4/w640-h336/Assisted-Suicide-cartoon-copy-scaled-e1682606615146-1024x538.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Sarah’s careers included leading operations at a
Midwest homeless shelter, working in government and finance on the East Coast
and producing part of a global sports event ceremony that beamed disability
awareness to two billion viewers worldwide. </span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then, she was diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis. The disease advanced rapidly, and she started using a
wheelchair for mobility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The MS came on so suddenly. I went from not having
any other signs to two injurious falls within six months. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two months
later I was diagnosed with MS, eventually paraplegia,” says Sarah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now a wheelchair user saddled with major disability
expenses, Sarah could no longer afford to rent or own her own place. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">She
acknowledged these circumstances drove her to the precipice: Without United
Spinal Association’s intervention, she planned to travel to Vermont to become
the first out-of-state test of its assisted suicide law.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-87558863490768547202024-03-03T21:00:00.000-08:002024-03-03T21:00:00.446-08:00 SHE CONSIDERED SUICIDE BUT FOUND US — AND HOPE – INSTEAD<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM RALLIED
AROUND A PERSON</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">AT WIT’S END – LITERALLY SAVING HER LIFE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8x4LPtkeUWs8-1w4EmallfYzuJ3dF11ViGHCoNgf_jXNFLHvbHZ-xvpuXQfo_-tOpC1bftpeShVhLtMGL6kZEXVzOYOd-orGVUDJ6IJsmlyiuh7t1nzdFMj0qF6fKlHGb6VR_6ER6XtEAbdbD-CezU5TZh1sIbLJ52aSDLwpNRmEawoHuQ7Gapnv9Qo/s1024/Sarahs-Story-scaled-e1701209293302-1024x537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8x4LPtkeUWs8-1w4EmallfYzuJ3dF11ViGHCoNgf_jXNFLHvbHZ-xvpuXQfo_-tOpC1bftpeShVhLtMGL6kZEXVzOYOd-orGVUDJ6IJsmlyiuh7t1nzdFMj0qF6fKlHGb6VR_6ER6XtEAbdbD-CezU5TZh1sIbLJ52aSDLwpNRmEawoHuQ7Gapnv9Qo/w640-h336/Sarahs-Story-scaled-e1701209293302-1024x537.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Meet Sarah. She is well-educated with a successful
career and, before the onset of her disability, an upper-middle-class income. </span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt;">Also, she is a longtime activist around and within the international and
national disability communities.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Editor’s Note: Sarah’s narrative is compelling. </span></em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
many reasons, it is important to share it and protect her anonymity, so her
name has been changed. </span></em></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt;"><em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A few details and locations are vague to protect her
identity.</span></em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-81407434829580000762024-03-02T21:00:00.011-08:002024-03-08T07:37:27.833-08:00CALL ME THE KING OF ALL MEDIA<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">THE TITLE
IS TAKEN? </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">OK, KING OF ALL DISABILITY ADVOCACY MEDIA</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidW5HqY_ykMRqTiGw02DLnySMcTi-_80KffLlgoDEYdRACQXENbS-ZNFZGs27x4b62XlCvLS-ftJJAqjt34j41xzU8x3n_IZm5c7_nY-_WtpfsTR_axT1kD56c04NgioaYddgCqBydA6XnD4NB9xzBsTcDDFxVskBVdSmmdq0LNbRCaJJxw2vazCIokw4/s4079/DSC01198.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="4079" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidW5HqY_ykMRqTiGw02DLnySMcTi-_80KffLlgoDEYdRACQXENbS-ZNFZGs27x4b62XlCvLS-ftJJAqjt34j41xzU8x3n_IZm5c7_nY-_WtpfsTR_axT1kD56c04NgioaYddgCqBydA6XnD4NB9xzBsTcDDFxVskBVdSmmdq0LNbRCaJJxw2vazCIokw4/w640-h426/DSC01198.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The year is
young, but I counting published articles, radio shows, documentaries, speeches,
podcasts, webinars and workshops – I have been involved in nearly 100 media
opportunities.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">All have involved
Universal Design and creating a better built environment for people with
disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">My workshops
in 2023 took me to Western Europe, Central Asia and South America, as well as countless
U.S. cities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">No opportunity
to be an evangelist for design for all is too small.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Last year, the
Miami Rotary cheered my presentation: A Better Built Environment – Without Breaking
the Budget.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It combined my
insights on better sidewalks, transit stops, crosswalks and connectivity – with
my love of historic preservation and photography<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Rotary
Club of Miami is the fifth oldest Rotary Club in Florida, chartered in 1917.
Many of Miami’s founders were members. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The history
of the club is closely tied to Miami’s early founders. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-65075973724408992572024-03-01T23:30:00.011-08:002024-03-01T23:30:00.144-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLgtckKU-AhfEvuqF_wo89hIGazgMICSEMvLOwGArtD48AxYx6y_fqubT078cjiExxhgBomffOavECBP_ThwBBSYatYBiNQNoQMxNIB02PkcgyTk3jlSFC7NQWSZspuFtRl_TjhCefM1peJPCTXfdCaQuzjjVGYgKSr9GtMHImV4s7o-6gTKvgcqeLwE/s4032/IMG_4525.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLgtckKU-AhfEvuqF_wo89hIGazgMICSEMvLOwGArtD48AxYx6y_fqubT078cjiExxhgBomffOavECBP_ThwBBSYatYBiNQNoQMxNIB02PkcgyTk3jlSFC7NQWSZspuFtRl_TjhCefM1peJPCTXfdCaQuzjjVGYgKSr9GtMHImV4s7o-6gTKvgcqeLwE/w480-h640/IMG_4525.jpeg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Kleo J.
King, who served as general counsel to the New York City Mayor’s Office for
People with Disabilities, is the Senior Director of Accessibility Operations
& Counsel for the United Spinal Association – a national nonprofit
that is based in Queens. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She said Universal Design is not only essential, but
it also adds value to housing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“Universal
Design and aging in place principles should be added to all new construction
and rehabilitation residential projects which would increase the ability for
people to stay in place as they age or acquire a disability. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Providing
removable base cabinets in kitchens and bathroom, blocking for grab bars around
the toilet and shower, widening doorways, and minimizing level changes in a
unit allow for easier and less expensive modification if they are needed,” said King.<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-74639649308571096792024-02-29T23:00:00.011-08:002024-03-07T05:23:30.040-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3pnlV-pix6aubAuRZrfqclR_EygSpOvC1K4ZltPfdyockraWLFfHjVUm1VuTvGUGGSJvXaCOitVBZyMiIydBp7NlNDlVU7GesLjvz4ZBFF-EhDvcY-_uffr8GP0RuTcKc0Q_aPS1OogR08QGKopo33y3MO0gs88VpCKIP7zK5Mgzuk8hJPL4_G_4iog/s4032/IMG_4521.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3pnlV-pix6aubAuRZrfqclR_EygSpOvC1K4ZltPfdyockraWLFfHjVUm1VuTvGUGGSJvXaCOitVBZyMiIydBp7NlNDlVU7GesLjvz4ZBFF-EhDvcY-_uffr8GP0RuTcKc0Q_aPS1OogR08QGKopo33y3MO0gs88VpCKIP7zK5Mgzuk8hJPL4_G_4iog/w640-h480/IMG_4521.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />In February 2023,
The New York City Council approved a law aimed at creating more accessible
housing. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It requires housing developers receiving city funds for new rental
developments with over 41 units to incorporate universal design features–such
as wheelchair access especially in the bath and kitchen plus adjustable
countertops.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The goal of
the law is to make all units fully accessible to any occupant no matter their
age, or disability. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The law is intended to create accessible housing, so
elderly and disabled New Yorkers are not dependent on pleading with
landlords to make adaptations on a case-by-case basis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-59694256259803229612024-02-28T22:30:00.015-08:002024-02-28T22:30:00.335-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb4gdMy63v1Jdc_1bSTp8ewbgwahzsoKKRLJcLkS47MOwGcf3D2RN4MLz1zR0wwN4CRBcQzzTqO35sLKsDMBB-gCDVzJ0NtBseUe6nvTqvar_3tXAZTno4eICJsXzZaVGeWuuMcectyw5CxpVHRbtR8ub3cbnjZ192rXngHfoz43mNYw_6HtKnscA_xg/s2400/the%20kelsey3%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb4gdMy63v1Jdc_1bSTp8ewbgwahzsoKKRLJcLkS47MOwGcf3D2RN4MLz1zR0wwN4CRBcQzzTqO35sLKsDMBB-gCDVzJ0NtBseUe6nvTqvar_3tXAZTno4eICJsXzZaVGeWuuMcectyw5CxpVHRbtR8ub3cbnjZ192rXngHfoz43mNYw_6HtKnscA_xg/w490-h640/the%20kelsey3%20.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Rodney
Harrell, vice president, family, home and community for AARP, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>said there is a huge economic benefit to
building housing and neighborhoods that are accessible to all.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">He said if a
person can no longer use the stairs at their house or apartment building, they
stay home and become socially isolated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">He cited
AARP research that found the impact on the health of socially isolated older
adults is an estimated $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">That impact didn’t consider the same negative impact on the health of people
with disabilities who are not elderly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Clearly,
cities that use tax credits and other incentives on affordable/accessible
housing–can potentially erase hundreds of billions in Medicare and Medicaid
spending.<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-39927895801070285572024-02-27T22:00:00.010-08:002024-02-27T22:00:00.130-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf0LSDbbZRV80P7REpO6eaB4PrxEgrMXVTBeX3sxIpQa16KeQuLBKW6Ed1D8zwt0FBYRM1O8hnkvjXQvjEsbnac9mnfrDz9d3a2ec0A3K7wzs0ZfJZqxlWAjaOcs_ohIjn4zhQi4wPrFDfEN8ld8CWyHc3znrudIWRJOjT6m9fp2_jwoGcDCnOSJqibg/s700/rodney-harrell.imgcache.rev.web.700.403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="700" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf0LSDbbZRV80P7REpO6eaB4PrxEgrMXVTBeX3sxIpQa16KeQuLBKW6Ed1D8zwt0FBYRM1O8hnkvjXQvjEsbnac9mnfrDz9d3a2ec0A3K7wzs0ZfJZqxlWAjaOcs_ohIjn4zhQi4wPrFDfEN8ld8CWyHc3znrudIWRJOjT6m9fp2_jwoGcDCnOSJqibg/w640-h368/rodney-harrell.imgcache.rev.web.700.403.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Rodney
Harrell, vice president, family, home and community for AARP, knows there is a
huge market for affordable, accessible housing.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“Think of it
not pure wheelchair access but making our housework for us at all ages. Design
for all abilities makes our housing stock more valuable,” he said, noting that
accessibility features do not limit re-sale or re-rent to people with
disabilities. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“I laugh when I watch HGTV and see housing with a zero
threshold shower with a fold down bench in the home of a young family. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">They might be doing it for design reasons. But over time, they will need these
features.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-47407141036546587932024-02-26T21:30:00.008-08:002024-02-26T21:30:00.127-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglr3uiszdGL2IPV07hSpG4b6i9GxBaIGL0bed2xYT6EHFXtJvz4aNY_wSayGcWVYn2P_my-tNhbsvCt6qB4Mz6jToEO1ChNT7yNCIiGWiaIORWMFpoJPvpm1zUN0KoL2anq-HBxmF4KH5sqtIO_YBWIgRBg0_L0WECHLDNYeZE0kORHFWqQ2hg-0VeU_w/s1568/PartnersHero%20the%20kelsey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglr3uiszdGL2IPV07hSpG4b6i9GxBaIGL0bed2xYT6EHFXtJvz4aNY_wSayGcWVYn2P_my-tNhbsvCt6qB4Mz6jToEO1ChNT7yNCIiGWiaIORWMFpoJPvpm1zUN0KoL2anq-HBxmF4KH5sqtIO_YBWIgRBg0_L0WECHLDNYeZE0kORHFWqQ2hg-0VeU_w/w490-h640/PartnersHero%20the%20kelsey.jpg" width="490" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />“People with
disabilities are the largest minority in America—well more than 60 million and
the number is growing. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“It makes sense for the public and private sector to
respond to this,” said Allie Cannington, The Kelsey’s senior project manager,
organizing & advocacy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“A 2020
study by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency found that for every dollar
spent on home repair (to make it more accessible for aging and disability),
there were $19 in Medicare savings,” she added, emphasizing that investing in
affordable, accessible housing is not just the right thing to do for human
beings, but also a huge return on investment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-20278981789704410262024-02-25T21:00:00.008-08:002024-02-25T21:00:00.459-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxks_gwBZXUnnSAmmLqRE-CvpFCuq7oOxRPA3X710RJnqnCedfYgEuRCqYhacGIXJLf9XT-DdRtd64jUp3gzAfPRgfpgEzdcepcB3f7P_AE83m5wsjuAjqEGl2Z77FYCN8hQfaOYs_y8B64y5-JCqhmTEm9LRdRKl-pWMCutW9suPyLuSnzr1Jw6N9rC8/s1142/Civic%20Center%20The%20Kelsey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1142" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxks_gwBZXUnnSAmmLqRE-CvpFCuq7oOxRPA3X710RJnqnCedfYgEuRCqYhacGIXJLf9XT-DdRtd64jUp3gzAfPRgfpgEzdcepcB3f7P_AE83m5wsjuAjqEGl2Z77FYCN8hQfaOYs_y8B64y5-JCqhmTEm9LRdRKl-pWMCutW9suPyLuSnzr1Jw6N9rC8/w640-h418/Civic%20Center%20The%20Kelsey.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Allie Cannington,
The Kelsey’s senior project manager, organizing & advocacy, noted that The
Kelsey Civic Center, a 112-unit, amenity-rich, urban co-living community across
from San Francisco City Hall, is coming in at 14 percent less than the city
average cost of residential construction.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She suggests
that states, when they are scoring applications for LIHTC, should give a high
rank to submissions that include accessibility for people with disabilities. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">That, matched with city incentives, would increase the amount of accessible
housing—changing the present reality that 95 percent of all housing excludes
people with disabilities, with 99 percent off limits to wheelchair users.<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-47578050784078662072024-02-24T21:00:00.014-08:002024-02-24T21:00:00.299-08:00CELEBRATING MORE THAN 550,000 READERS<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-size: 14pt;">MORE THAN
HALF A MILLION UNIQUE VISITS TO THIS BLOG</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcbo53of0Ebjsk7_qoDUeDEX4WhyXrm9wppz399vYRjqmC-25p-tppdyq8gYNXflJLgYvFS9PdKRZl-sG921Jy2s_6FNKjGyCJzEJySpWvY0P3HCTtjPLzd5aSL_kO8YdX9vYc6qnByRUwrrnpCHKYvCXnv-OZqvOCDaGaGMAgsFs0ZAdaunuZaEo94/s4032/Photo%20Sep%2021%202023,%206%2023%2000%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcbo53of0Ebjsk7_qoDUeDEX4WhyXrm9wppz399vYRjqmC-25p-tppdyq8gYNXflJLgYvFS9PdKRZl-sG921Jy2s_6FNKjGyCJzEJySpWvY0P3HCTtjPLzd5aSL_kO8YdX9vYc6qnByRUwrrnpCHKYvCXnv-OZqvOCDaGaGMAgsFs0ZAdaunuZaEo94/w400-h300/Photo%20Sep%2021%202023,%206%2023%2000%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks to
readers around the world who have followed this blog for more than a decade.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Cumulatively,
its content could fill the pages of five full-length books.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Topics focus
on urban design, planning, architecture and transportation – most often in the context
of creating a better built environment for people with disabilities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes my
fine art photography, which is earning places in respected galleries, is
featured. Or there might just be a travel pic, cat foto or joke shared.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i3C4e6OH6OsAaMFkGZq6Y2K6cjFUtP6TQGYyoctw8E4PyJw2JVegTLq2MiiYnlpB1AWEAyat3o1EXNlff-zz4dM3UBEvdI2NkOrhyphenhyphenFFavk9oB0L-praIC-Y6-ZifV1QTyasjRPLy6rIbqoXm4xsrkJ3ZPUuULHSOIeIVZixVf0UtndEnGmRN8UzarEk/s3862/Photo%20Sep%2016%202023,%2011%2051%2034%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="3862" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i3C4e6OH6OsAaMFkGZq6Y2K6cjFUtP6TQGYyoctw8E4PyJw2JVegTLq2MiiYnlpB1AWEAyat3o1EXNlff-zz4dM3UBEvdI2NkOrhyphenhyphenFFavk9oB0L-praIC-Y6-ZifV1QTyasjRPLy6rIbqoXm4xsrkJ3ZPUuULHSOIeIVZixVf0UtndEnGmRN8UzarEk/w400-h300/Photo%20Sep%2016%202023,%2011%2051%2034%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In the past
12 months, I have posted news of my work (and excerpts of my published work),
including:</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 School of
architecture guest lecture</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">2 Acclaimed photography
exhibits<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">3 PBS
documentaries on camera<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">4 TV
appearances as an expert<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">5 Keynote
speeches<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">6 Photos
from the road during international consulting <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZWmr1xHqUmwlBHLN0abMliy-iMmDXRMt_y1wc5wx3LMOff1YQLpZPG7c1oOUj-KkQwuqrNWHJ_CALPUqoND67jCOb7dxlXeLW98zt_8s0LE-_QdCWnXnLbs45P_pBwYWsrKtkc5wQuuAxOotEB-amMfBb4_QsG_f9i1TIwHC9UAsVtyMnjtf099NrmY/s4032/Photo%20Sep%2014%202023,%206%2054%2017%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZWmr1xHqUmwlBHLN0abMliy-iMmDXRMt_y1wc5wx3LMOff1YQLpZPG7c1oOUj-KkQwuqrNWHJ_CALPUqoND67jCOb7dxlXeLW98zt_8s0LE-_QdCWnXnLbs45P_pBwYWsrKtkc5wQuuAxOotEB-amMfBb4_QsG_f9i1TIwHC9UAsVtyMnjtf099NrmY/w400-h300/Photo%20Sep%2014%202023,%206%2054%2017%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">7 Global
radio broadcasts</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">8 Universal
design workshops<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">9 New design inclusion clients<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">10 Daily
social media posts on design and DEI<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">11 Podcasts
on planning<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">12 Published
cover articles<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFpwX1F0abi9W8FyFkSz3Np-TsrW4E2_q2FWT5VBwqvDmHmcxPgRZxXYJbY4E8tm4OmegokRgn6ltChElVaBbLmosrsb7QA3L29519KGmt2j_t_d6lpSG81M2yxp0_9OackxZPJ3bLWj-_-mcJivSdXxM-4j9uI9ZNhxAOSMcfUzZhMfRMz0kccuz3J0/s4032/Photo%20Sep%2021%202023,%2010%2033%2014%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFpwX1F0abi9W8FyFkSz3Np-TsrW4E2_q2FWT5VBwqvDmHmcxPgRZxXYJbY4E8tm4OmegokRgn6ltChElVaBbLmosrsb7QA3L29519KGmt2j_t_d6lpSG81M2yxp0_9OackxZPJ3bLWj-_-mcJivSdXxM-4j9uI9ZNhxAOSMcfUzZhMfRMz0kccuz3J0/w300-h400/Photo%20Sep%2021%202023,%2010%2033%2014%20AM.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-42006338343498082362024-02-23T23:30:00.010-08:002024-02-23T23:30:00.305-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AQUKA_POo3qGrTYm9l7fc23w5SswmdVSA6kMEE70qVpJCtcUrHUHlpUJ7teH9YSKkllWYl5beKi15dQCoqzsETH6k38aql_mcqyQrBvUUg-yyZzaCEIOdWH5h37pyeJVpwwdrQWrV5MJdDPNdR9nARaL1E_as8bvFjdF0lRaIFT7d9EWatXtzT1X4E0/s1200/Ayer-Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="748" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AQUKA_POo3qGrTYm9l7fc23w5SswmdVSA6kMEE70qVpJCtcUrHUHlpUJ7teH9YSKkllWYl5beKi15dQCoqzsETH6k38aql_mcqyQrBvUUg-yyZzaCEIOdWH5h37pyeJVpwwdrQWrV5MJdDPNdR9nARaL1E_as8bvFjdF0lRaIFT7d9EWatXtzT1X4E0/w398-h640/Ayer-Station.jpg" width="398" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />The Kelsey
Ayer Station is a fully inclusive mixed-ability, mixed-income housing community
located in a transit-oriented neighborhood blocks north of downtown San Jose.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The 115 apartment homes come with inclusion concierges that will connect
residents to the community and support services.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“There is a
dangerous assumption that making disability-forward housing comes with an
exorbitant cost. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We work in one of the most expensive markets in the nation and
found if your are have good partners, you can deliver at a cost on par with
(not accessible) market-rate housing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Kelsey Ayer Station is on par with San
Jose Costs,” said Allie Cannington, The Kelsey’s senior project manager,
organizing & advocacy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439273528853687045.post-38885537355686043262024-02-22T23:00:00.011-08:002024-02-22T23:00:00.145-08:00AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCL0tw-kX1u-G66VOmgJ-qMjm0WoORhb2rQ0XjS3a6yk1iBPcKhzQL5OwtICjZWrCl3CsNnTCclhsVjdHbYSttlzt0BNFzK15cgXxUQfIMokcPbeivydFy8S5Phc1PDMvqtSswqu-8V_eJMOXIxD_blCr1sEVLNmCzyuvi4LWm4CokXw-VaGN4LDMVk8/s1024/the%20kelsey%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCL0tw-kX1u-G66VOmgJ-qMjm0WoORhb2rQ0XjS3a6yk1iBPcKhzQL5OwtICjZWrCl3CsNnTCclhsVjdHbYSttlzt0BNFzK15cgXxUQfIMokcPbeivydFy8S5Phc1PDMvqtSswqu-8V_eJMOXIxD_blCr1sEVLNmCzyuvi4LWm4CokXw-VaGN4LDMVk8/w640-h480/the%20kelsey%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />“Low Income
Housing Tax Credits is one of biggest drivers of affordable housing. At the
federal level, we need more tax credits to fund affordable housing. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And we need
to make sure the end unit is affordable and adaptable (to serve people with
disabilities,” said Allie Cannington, The Kelsey’s senior project manager,
organizing & advocacy, who uses a wheelchair for mobility. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“We need state
and local government to invest in developer subsidies and vouchers for
residents. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We need to make affordable, accessible housing the norm across the
country.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></b><p></p>Steve Wright Communications, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04046708984534648502noreply@blogger.com0