There are many ways to educate an inaccessible business about accessibility, but no one does it quite like Tina Pedersen of Harrisville, Rhode Island. If a business complains about the cost of renovations, she comes back with positive and practical solutions: contractors, tax breaks and a smile.
RAMPing Up
If Tina Pedersen can’t get into your restaurant with her wheelchair, don’t worry. She’ll pull her own folding table out of her van, set up right in front of your establishment and ask to see a menu.
“It ends up being a comical thing at first, but eventually the business owner starts asking, ‘How do I get you into my restaurant so you can dine with us in all seasons?’ So I’m always finding a way to open the conversation and bring it around to a positive,” says Pedersen, 50.
By positive, she means a noncombative approach that educates the business owner as to how their business is inaccessible, rather than blaming them for that inaccessibility. For example, if Pedersen, a T11 para, can get into the restaurant but not the bathroom, she will often ask the manager to take a roll with her. She’ll demonstrate why the bathroom is inaccessible and suggest changes they can implement to make it accessible.
“I never throw a business under the bus or look down on them for being inaccessible. It’s never a judgment — whether I come across a business that I can’t get into, or I intentionally want to target a business that I know ahead of time is inaccessible — so it’s always an easy conversation to have,” says Pedersen. “I always bring up the fact that I didn’t realize these things eight years ago when I wasn’t in a wheelchair. That takes the chip off their shoulder right away … so they appreciate the feedback, and everyone welcomes bringing in more business.”
Not only is she easygoing and relatable enough to put herself in the business owner’s position, but she comes with solutions. Pederson comes armed with a list of contractors. She also knows all the tax breaks in her state and across the nation that can make accessibility improvements much cheaper and sometimes free for business owners.
“Depending on what the project is — bathroom, ramp, doorway, etc. — I will give them a list of three to four contractors I have worked with over the years through the Rhode Island Builders Association. It’s up to the business owner to call them, but if they can’t get ahold of them, I will follow up, and that contractor will not get my referral again until they’ve at least talked to the business owner,” she says.
Pedersen’s approach became so popular that businesses across the country started asking her to do accessibility roll-throughs at their establishments, and contractors began offering their services. With so many requests, she took her positive, solution-oriented approach and started RAMP: Real Access Motivates Progress.
Founded in April 2019, it’s a nonprofit organization with representatives in nine states and allies across the country who do roll-throughs in their own areas using Pedersen’s techniques, while also educating the public on accessibility through various activities and public events.
In her effort to refine and improve her approach, Pedersen is currently making worksheets with the tax breaks and grants relating to ADA compliance for all 50 states. Meanwhile, she recommends businesses contact their secretary of state’s offices to find out what financial relief is available for making accommodations.
“They should have a list of tax breaks and grants that are available to you, and if they don’t, call them out on it,” she says. “Honestly, accessibility shouldn’t be intimidating. Most of us aren’t looking for full ADA compliance. At minimum, we just want to be able to get in the door and use the bathroom.”
Accessible Adventures
Tina Pedersen freely admits that she has gone on more adventures as a person with a disability than she ever did as a nondisabled person. She’s pushed her boundaries with rock climbing, sailing and even “floating” in a standing wheelchair.
“I’ve been to an indoor rock gym where I can use my upper body and I’m harnessed on something to help me get up. I have no feeling in my lower limbs, so it’s a thing of determination for me. It’s more, ‘I can do this and I’m just going to figure it out.’ I don’t know how to describe that, but it’s one of the coolest things in the world. I’m not afraid of heights or anything, but the freakiest thing for me is being in a standing wheelchair. You know you’re standing on something, but when you can’t feel the lower half of your body, it’s like you’re suspended in air — one of the freakiest feelings in the world.”
Why did you join United Spinal?
I wanted to be part of a group that knew exactly what I was going through, and United Spinal is that group for me.
Best advice for parents with disabilities:
Nothing is impossible, and everything is adaptable.
Proud moment:
Rolling up to be crowned at the USA Ambassador Pageant as the first winner to use a wheelchair was an incredible feeling.
Greatest accomplishment:
I built my own house with my own two hands with the help of Habitat for Humanity in 2020.
