THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

Kleo King, United Spinal’s Accessibility Services Senior Vice President, has a team works nationwide with large and small clients to implement universal design. 

“We tell them to look at universal design that makes facilities easier to use for everybody. That’s good business,” she says as she ticks off trends to watch for. 

“A big thing coming soon is adult changing stations in public bathrooms.

It is a crucial need. 

We must also ensure that electric and autonomous vehicles and all charging stations are accessible.”

 King said anyone who owns or leases a building used by the public could benefit from United Spinal’s Accessibility Services.

“Every building needs an access audit, and every business should have an accessibility consultant,” she says.

https://unitedspinal.org/program/75200/

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

Kleo King, United Spinal’s Accessibility Services Senior Vice President, is a primal force for access.

She consults with governments and businesses on why they must make their built environments work for everyone.

“We always tell states and cities that code is the floor, not the ceiling. 

Their building codes can require more than the ADA,” says Kleo. 

“In New York City, 100% of entrances have to be accessible – more than the 60 percent required by the ADA.”

And it’s an ongoing battle.

“We need to constantly educate architects and builders about really good inclusive design practices,” she says. 

But when something is built right, it’s a joy to use. 

“Think of airports where you walk or roll around divides for privacy — there are no doors.

That approach could remove heaving, obstructing doors in many public facilities.” 

Then, accessibility would be gracefully inclusive.

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

We have an ally in U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was instrumental in creating the first Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. 

In an interview, he said he is committed to better onboard wheelchair access for air travel.

“The number of times that people arrive at their destination without their wheelchair working, which is basically as though some of you didn’t get there at all.

It can be wildly disruptive for a professional person, for anyone,” he said.

“We can take the … Bill of Rights as a tool that can empower travelers [who use wheelchairs]. 

We can create some healthy pressure on the travel industry to respect those rights,” Buttigieg says.

“It’s one thing to say the right thing.

But we’re putting our money where our mouth is, and I’m especially excited about that.

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

“I never met Gaby, but I sure knew she was my soul sister,” says Kent Keyser, a Public Policy Fellow with United Spinal. 

“When I heard that we lost another one to the airlines, I was sick to my stomach and prayed I didn’t know them.

Then when I read the news story, I was just plain pissed off that this happened to someone I sure know but never met. 

Damn it, she was my soul sister in a policy fight that’s David versus Goliath all over again.”

To say United Spinal is passionate about making airlines work for wheelchair users is a gross understatement.

Join our efforts to take the fight to the airlines by joining its Grassroots Advocacy Network.

https://unitedspinal.org/grassroots-advocacy-network/

WHY BUSES CAN’T GET WHEELCHAIR USERS TO MOST AREAS OF CITIES

STUDY IN COLUMBUS FINDS LACK OF SIDEWALKS HAMPERS MOBILITY

A landmark study published by Ohio State University researchers in the Journal of Transport Geography in the second quarter of 2023 states that only one percent of Columbus, Ohio is accessible to transit riders who use manual wheelchairs for mobility.

The number increases to only 25 percent for those who can afford power wheelchairs. 

The groundbreaking study showed the broken, missing and obstructed sidewalks, inaccessible buildings and other barriers meant the vast majority of the city is off-limits to people with mobility disabilities.

Researchers noted that Columbus is typical of most large cities and that the same isolating, segregating and unhealthy built environment exists in most. 

If one sidewalk was broken, missing, too narrow, too tilted or even blocked by a parked car – the person with a disability’s pathway is 100 percent denied.

When those using wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, canes and other assistive mobility devices perpetually hit a barrier, they must detour for blocks to reach their destination. Being tardy to class too often  can result in a terrible grade for a  great student. 

Constantly being late for work has negative results ranging from being denied promotions to getting fired.

This report should be front page news in every newspaper in America.

https://news.osu.edu/why-buses-cant-get-wheelchair-users-to-most-areas-of-cities/

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

Being a CEO didn’t protect Enzo from mistreatment at an airport. “I was dropped to the floor,” he told Atlanta News First in May 2022.

Although two agents were supposed to help transfer people into aisle chairs, only one assisted Enzo, and one was insufficient. 

Fortunately, another passenger was willing to help, but many passengers with disabilities are not that lucky.

“It was very concerning to me because I could have hit my head or broken my leg,” United Spinal Association CEO Vincenzo Piscopo told Atlanta News First.

“On top of that, it is an undignified experience.

It’s not dignified for a human being to be dropped on the floor in front of people.”

The worst has happened to other wheelchair users.

Disability advocate Engracia Figueroa died from a pressure wound after United Airlines destroyed her $30,000 customized wheelchair.

And Gaby Assouline died from injuries sustained after flipping out of her chair on a jetway.

 Her family says she did not receive the requested help. 

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE 

“We can be healthy, we can have the best access, and people can think the best of us – but we still cannot reach our fullest potential if public policy is not changed.

We cannot have insurance that is so difficult for so many to access.

We cannot have hiring policies that fail to be inclusive.

We cannot have gaps in transportation, mobility and housing.

We are working from the federal to the local level to change policy,” said United Spinal Association CEO Vincenzo Piscopo.

“The way airlines treat people with disabilities is not humane,” says Enzo.

For one, manufacturers must rebuild planes to allow wheelchair users to board in their mobility devices. “There are structural, root changes that must take place.”

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

“If a wheelchair user’s place of work is not accessible, he cannot make money, and he cannot be empowered and pay bills.

If she goes out to a park and it’s not accessible, she cannot live life to the fullest. 

If tech is not accessible, it is not inclusive. 

So, making everything accessible across the board is a big factor,” said United Spinal Association CEO Vincenzo Piscopo

Removing stigma. 

“Stigma is the belief that we, people with disabilities, are less than others. 

And when that belief exists, all the inequities we regularly see in our community become OK.

When people think less of us, they are less inclined to hire and invest in us. 

We need to work on removing such stigma. 

An airline executive once told me that making the plane truly accessible was just too expensive.

To me, that means he believes our dignity is not worth the investment. 

That’s what stigma does to us.” 

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

United Spinal Association CEO Vincenzo Piscopo uses the analogy of a four-legged table to explain what needs to change for wheelchair users to enjoy the quality of life they deserve. 

Each leg must be strong, or the table will not hold anything for long.

Wellbeing. “We must ensure our people are well and healthy,” says Enzo.

“We must address all domains — spiritual, mental, physical, social, sexual health – and all the nuances that come with them.” 

He points to United Spinal’s Community Support and Peer Support programs as places our members can find resources and support for all these areas of their lives.

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

“We want to go out, but we experience places that are not accessible.

It’s ableism, and what makes it worse is that people don’t even realize they are ableists.

The belief that we are less than nondisabled people is so ingrained in them that discrimination is considered OK,” said United Spinal Association CEO Vincenzo Piscopo.

Enzo lets these experiences fuel his passion for improving the lives of everyone with a spinal cord injury and all people with disabilities. 

He allowed me a sneak peek at how he plans to change society’s view of disability. 

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

United Spinal Association CEO Vincenzo Piscopo wakes daily to dozens of tasks. 

And they are all focused on making the world a safer, healthier, and more inclusive place for wheelchair users and all people with disabilities.

In the dozen years since he joined the disability community and started using a wheelchair for mobility, Enzo feels everything boils down to civil rights.

“Society allows for the abuse of people with disabilities. It’s so ingrained in our culture’s DNA that we don’t even recognize it,” he says.

He runs through a list of indignities he regularly experiences, from the inaccessible scale at his doctor’s office to the limited accessible seating at Braves’ games.

ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION

A CALL TO ACTION

Ask any person with a physical disability, which is the bigger hurdle: Your core disability? Or access barriers?

Accessing buildings, services and transportation will be the answer 99 out of 100 (there’s always one outlier) people will say it’s the way we continue to make mobility difficult for people with a wide range of disabilities.

That’s why we are sharing our National Transportation Week Call to Action. 

While there have been great gains in employers understanding the value of remote work – from entry to executive level, for people with and without disabilities – many jobs still require an in-person presence at least a few days per week.

For the past several decades, National Transportation Week has been observed in mid-May.

Public transit, inclusive transportation and safe sidewalks are huge elements in the quality of life for everyone and enable people with disabilities to navigate to and around their workplaces.

https://www.globaldisabilityinclusion.com/post/accessible-transportation-a-call-to-action

HOTEL BOUTIQUE CASA FARALLONES

QUIRKY COMFORT WITHIN GREAT VALUE CONFINES

IN THE HEART OF CALI, COLOMBIA

On check out, Hotel Boutique Casa Farallones Cali Colombia’s machine was not processing Visa cards.

I was directed, on departure day, to go to an ATM to pay full in cash.

I didn't want to lose air miles or proof of purchase that Visa delivers.

They demanded US dollars, then gave most of them back.

It took a few days, stressed communications and using PayPal to pay my bill.

The hotel is like staying with an oddball family, albeit in a great location at a great price.

They mean well -- they just are nothing corporate at all.

Overall, with six nights’ stay costing half what one night would cost in New York -- I’ll be back.

HOTEL BOUTIQUE CASA FARALLONES

QUIRKY COMFORT WITHIN GREAT VALUE CONFINES

IN THE HEART OF CALI, COLOMBIA

The Hotel Boutique Casa Farallones Cali Colombia could benefit from having a staff member who speaks decent English.

I communicated in my mediocre Spanish in person and used Google Translate via WhatsApp to talk to the manager.

Some things were missed.

I wanted no housekeeping, but came back late one night to find my misarranged because a housekeeper had serviced it.

I did a day trip a day late over confusion with the manager on booking a driver for a faraway trip, not in-town visiting.

HOTEL BOUTIQUE CASA FARALLONES

QUIRKY COMFORT WITHIN GREAT VALUE CONFINES

IN THE HEART OF CALI, COLOMBIA

The Rio Cali, and its wonderful park filled with cat sculptures, is very close by Hotel Boutique Casa Farallones in Cali Colombia.

Breakfast is about 2 dollars and includes coffee, hot chocolate, toast, arepas and eggs done many ways.

For security, they lock the front door. 

You can get out at any time, but to get back in, you need to ring a buzzer.

I think it dates back to rougher times -- I felt 100% safe all over Cali, even well past midnight, and the Casa Farallones neighborhood is quiet, sleepy and safe around the clock. 

I would return.

HOTEL BOUTIQUE CASA FARALLONES

QUIRKY COMFORT WITHIN GREAT VALUE CONFINES

IN THE HEART OF CALI, COLOMBIA

The Hotel Boutique Casa Farallones Cali Colombia air conditioning  is strong – a huge positive because a lot of properties in Cali do not have AC despite 90 degree days.

Platillos Valadores, world class restaurant, is practically next door.

We had some confusion, but they ultimately found me an English speaking driver who took me past gorgeous scenery in Cauca -- to historic/colonial Popayan -- and back for $60 USD (a tour company would want triple).

HOTEL BOUTIQUE CASA FARALLONES

QUIRKY COMFORT WITHIN GREAT VALUE CONFINES

IN THE HEART OF CALI, COLOMBIA

Hotel Boutique Casa Farallones Cali Colombia is quirky.

They try to charge you for shampoo, but it's only a dollar per packet.

They do not speak English.

Google translate use is a must unless you speak Spanish.

An odd (mainly all restaurants and drug stores but with a tremendous supermarket) mall is very close by and the dorm sized fridge allows you to store some milk, berries and beverages.

HOTEL BOUTIQUE CASA FARALLONES

QUIRKY COMFORT WITHIN GREAT VALUE CONFINES

IN THE HEART OF CALI, COLOMBIA

The Hotel Boutique Casa Farallones Cali Colombia value/price point is incredible.

The hotel also was super quiet at night -- something not all properties in Cali can deliver.

The location is great.

You are walking distance from colonial San Antonio, posh El Penon, vibrant Granada and quirky Centro neighborhoods -- 

Most of what a visitor would want to see in terms of museums, restaurants, architecture, music, nightlife, culture, etc.

 

HAPPY AND HEALTHY

NOT SHARING THIS TO BRAG ON ME, BUT TO MOTIVATE OTHERS

Anyone who knows me remembers that from second grade on, I was overweight.

I soared to more than 300 pounds.

On my 55th birthday, my test results showed cholesterol double what it should + pre-diabetes.

This week, I received results with numbers better than an average 30 year old.

I started walking a lot more.

I traded pizzas and double cheeseburgers with a basket of fries -- for salads, veggie stir fries and grilled fish.

'Za and burgers are for rare special occasions.

The photo is from the day I walked 45 KM -- that's longer than a marathon -- in one day in Portugal.

ZUK FITNESS OFFERS NEW ONLINE WORKOUT OPTION

FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Dillon Connolly plans to develop an app, which would allow Zuk users to access inclusive workouts from smart devices in addition to the Zuk Fitness website.

Connolly says physical activity has always been his “happy place,” but a person doesn’t have to be a former NCAA All-American to benefit from exercise.

“I challenge anyone, especially when you are feeling horrible or not having a good day, to get in a good workout,” he says.

“You’ll feel a little bit better. It releases chemicals in your brain and improves your mood.”

Zuk offers monthly, semiannual and annual pricing plans, starting from as little as $8.40 per month (when prepaid yearly). Find out more at:

zukfitness.com

ZUK FITNESS OFFERS NEW ONLINE WORKOUT OPTION

FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Many — but not all — of Zuk’s expert instructors are wheelchair users:

• Shawn Fluke: A wheelchair rugby athlete and founder of the Live To Roll YouTube channel, Fluke leads several adaptive movement courses — resources designed for anyone with a C-level spinal cord injury.

• Bryan Williams: Founder of Painful Pleasures gym in Southern California and an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Pro wheelchair bodybuilder, Williams is a full-time personal trainer who leads workouts for paraplegics and others for Zuk.

• Leo Harmon: Another IFBB Pro wheelchair bodybuilder, Harmon is also a personal trainer at Painful Pleasures and working actor who brings his energy to online Zuk workouts.

• Racheal Palmer: A workout enthusiast and influencer promoting independence.

ZUK FITNESS OFFERS NEW ONLINE WORKOUT OPTION

FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Zuk’s website offers filters that allow subscribers to customize their workouts.

Many programs are tailored toward those who are paraplegic or quadriplegic, with options for any ability level throughout. 

The site also allows visitors to filter by equipment used, such as wrist weights, dumbbells, weight bars and resistance bands.

Workouts range from intense sessions led by champion bodybuilders to beginning exercises and meditation.

“Along with customizing to your physical ability, we also have filters that help you focus on what you want to concentrate on — cardio, range of motion, circuit training, etc.,” Dillon Connolly says.

“Even if you are not a wheelchair user, the programs are great for elderly people, so they can improve their strength through a safe, seated position.

My grandma does the quadriplegic workouts while on her recumbent bike because she likes Shawn’s instructions. They work great for her because she’s not able to stand for long periods.”

ZUK FITNESS OFFERS NEW ONLINE WORKOUT OPTION

FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Dillon Connolly, who uses a power wheelchair, applied his design-engineering background to think about people with limited mobility and the ways uniquely designed exercise could benefit them.

“Depression and obesity are big problems in the SCI/D community,” he says, adding that he has battled depression and chronic pain for years. 

“Typical gyms are not practical for quads, and they are definitely not tailored for people with mobility impairments.

My goal is to bring highly specialized workouts to a broad audience of people with SCI, CP or MS, or anyone who can benefit from a seated workout, like seniors.

“At least 5% of people have a significant mobility impairment. That’s a large market, a viable market,” he says, noting that many studies have found that up to one in four people will experience some type of disability in their lifetime. 

“We did customer discovery, speaking to over 100 wheelchair users — not all with spinal cord injuries. We found out that many were dealing with some sort of pain, but on average, those going to the gym were happier and had less pain.”

ZUK FITNESS OFFERS NEW ONLINE WORKOUT OPTION

FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Dillon Connolly took five years after his rehabilitation at Shepherd Center to plot a new career course, using a scholarship from the Swim With Mike Foundation to enroll in USC’s master’s program for entrepreneurship and innovation. 

During a class project, he met the co-founders of his next big endeavor: Zuk Fitness. 

They won money in a schoolwide pitch competition and were on their way.

Zuk is an acronym for Zero limitations and Unity through Kinesthetics. Connolly defines kinesthetics as anything that encompasses body movement. 

“We chose that word to celebrate moving anything that you can, even though it may be limited,” Connolly says.

ZUK FITNESS OFFERS NEW ONLINE WORKOUT OPTION

FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Zuk Fitness is an online fitness service created by and for wheelchair users. 

It offers live and prerecorded workouts led by both paras and quads. 

Strength, cardio, warmup and stretching routines can all be completed from your wheelchair, often with minimal equipment.

The service was founded by wheelchair user and lifelong athlete Dillon Connolly.

An admitted endorphin junkie, Connolly used to rise before 5 a.m. each day to get in 26 hours per week of intense swimming prior to becoming a quad. 

He earned a swimming scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he became an NCAA All-American talent.

Connolly studied engineering and later worked as a design engineer at an aerospace company. 

Still wanting to push himself as an athlete, he planned to quit his job at 25 to focus on training for the 2016 Olympics. 

On the same weekend that Connolly decided to pursue his Olympic swimming dream, he dove into a wave at Newport Beach, California, hit a sandbar and injured his spinal cord at C5-6.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN REQUIRES EXPERTISE

ALL ARCHITCTURE PROJECTS SHOULD HAVE 

ACCESSIBLITY CONSULTANTS

Architect:

"The ADA has been on the books for 3 decades.

It is illegal to build inaccessibly, so I see no need for accessibility consultants."

Me:

"Murder has been outlawed since the beginning of civilization but we have police because people violate the law every few minutes."

The pushback, from architects, against Universal Design and creating spaces that are welcoming to people with disabilities is foolhardy and a detriment to the profession.

For allies of people with disabilities, it is exhausting and depressing.

UNITED SPINAL’S RESOURCE CENTER

TACKLES TOUGH QUESTIONS

Everyone should be able to go to the bathroom when they want and need to, but without the proper supplies, it can be a difficult and frustrating task for people with disabilities.

Betty Sherril reached out to the Resource Center because she was not receiving enough catheters per month from Medicaid and didn’t know what to do.

“Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had hard ceilings on how many catheters they would provide to a CMS beneficiary,” Bill Fertig says.

“Supported by the Resource Center information specialists and the United Spinal policy department, Betty was eventually granted an exemption from CMS catheter limits and began to receive all of the monthly medical supplies that she required.”

UNITED SPINAL’S RESOURCE CENTER

TACKLES TOUGH QUESTIONS

Annie Mitchell reached out to the Resource Center for accessible gardening ideas two years after becoming a paraplegic.

She ended up with several ideas for home modifications and other hacks that Bill Fertig and his team came up with to enhance her quality of life.

“We try to phone people, rather than email,” Fertig said.

“Rather than answering a quick question from a category on a form, it gives us the opportunity to chat and respond more fully and directly.

Hers was a typical case where we were able to identify so many areas of information that she could utilize comprehensively.

When our information specialists make direct personal contact with people, very good things happen.”

On the gardening end, the team suggested a short-handled gardening rake for gardening from a wheelchair.

The gardening chat let to simple home modifications such as:

Spring hinge pins for exterior doors to simplify door opening/closing from a wheelchair

Adding a magnetic catch to the back of the door to keep the door open when needed.

Fold-down kitchen cabinet rack choices for quick accessibility to upper kitchen cabinets.

Vanity drain and trap options to facilitate roll-under bathroom vanity access.