Disability rights movement fans have a new way to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act and support United Spinal Association — and look cool while doing it. The Grammy-winning rockers of Portugal. The Man have created a fresh new T-shirt inspired by the movement’s revolutionary origins to honor the 30th anniversary of the ADA, and all proceeds will benefit United Spinal Association.
Portugal. The Man’s guitarist, Eric Howk, a wheelchair user with paraplegia, was inspired to do something in support of disability rights and the ADA by the film Crip Camp. “I was fired up about the idea of a disability revolution. I know that it was an incredibly hard-fought battle to get recognized and to get our voices heard. But it’s something that I obviously take for granted,” he says. “At the end of the day, we can either write songs or sell merchandise. We’re just dudes in a band. I can speak on camera, but just having the shirt and being able to wear that shirt and have it be a conversation starter is going to be a great thing.”
A passionate advocate, Howk says United Spinal was an easy choice as the fundraiser’s beneficiary. “I look to [United Spinal] because I think you do such a good job within the spinal cord injury community, and you look at it from a 360-degree angle. I couldn’t think of anyone else that could get anything done that really was looking out for people like us.”
The fundraiser is being coordinated through the PTM Foundation, a new organization the band launched to focus on building community resilience, empathy and awareness through music, stories, art, education and connectivity. It aims to convene and organize partnerships and projects informed by community need, and then mobilize Portugal. The Man’s listeners and supporters around that shared vision.
Its work is centered on human rights issues, including community health and the environment. A special focus is placed on highlighting the stories of indigenous peoples, as well as other marginalized populations.
To find out more about the PTM Foundation, visit ptmfoundation.org. To order your own ADA T-shirt, visit bit.ly/2XKifxZ.