Policy, Success Stories

Find the United Spinal Advocacy Working Group That’s Right for You

Our Advocacy Department’s popular working groups provide opportunities for members to organize around the issues that matter most to them. Check back often as we plan to add more.

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Outdoor Access Working Group 

This working group advocates against current constraints that hinder the disability community’s participation in outdoor activities. The group also raises awareness of the importance of inclusive, equal access to outdoor recreation and interfaces with companies and other organizations focused on outdoor recreation.

Dustin Berg exploring a cedar grove in Northern California on his handcycle.
“Our Outdoor Access Working Group lays the groundwork for people with disabilities to have expanded access to extraordinary settings full of life-changing experiences,” says Dustin Berg, New Mexico Chapter Leader and Executive Director of Global Opportunities. “We now have adaptive technology capable of mobilizing the disability community far beyond outdated definitions of what is accessible. It is vitally important for these newfound opportunities to be understood as necessary for our health and wellbeing, as opposed to a luxury.”

Action Items:

  • Compile inventory lists of accessible outdoor recreational equipment available for people to purchase, rent or borrow.
  • Engage with federal, state, and local entities about promoting access to the natural and built environments in parks and recreational spaces.

Accessible Parking Working Group

This working group advocates for improved accessible parking and increased awareness and education regarding common barriers encountered by the disability community. It also examines accessible parking laws and regulations throughout the United States.

A woman manual wheelchair user leans demonstrates why she can't use her van lift when someone parks in the stripes.

“I started driving six months after my accident thanks to support to purchase a used van to get me back to work,” says Shelley Jaspering, Iowa Chapter Advocacy Coordinator and Board Member. Parking quickly became frustrating because of my ramp’s space needs. I love raising awareness and connecting with people who want to create a better parking system for all. This working group brought up so many great ideas in just a short time. It’s motivating!”

Action Items:

  • Create a social media campaign and public service announcement on the proper use of parking lot access aisles for van ramps.
  • Engage with state departments of motor vehicles and local law enforcement.

Emergency Preparedness Working Group

This working group focuses on emergency preparedness for the SCI/D and wheelchair user community to deal with natural or manmade disasters. This group corresponds with the United Spinal Ready to Roll Emergency Preparedness program and serves as a member-led brain trust to ensure that it meets our community’s needs.

A smiling manual wheelchair user sits outside bundled up for chilly weather.

“The Emergency Preparedness Working Group is a unique opportunity to share information, personal expertise, and experiences,” says Erik Kondo, United Spinal Advocate in Massachusetts and Owner of Adaptive Community Consulting. “The goal is to create a more resilient community to deal with the ever-increasing risk of natural and manmade disasters.”

Action Items:

  • Provide information to enable people with SCI/D and all wheelchair users to make informed decisions about their safety.
  • Assist governments and other organizations in proper disability-focused emergency preparedness activities.
  • Review state and local emergency management plans to understand what the system currently is lacking and ensure that state and local agencies are fulfilling the requirements as directed by federal law

Care Support Working Group

Our members who use personal assistance find hiring and retaining aides harder due to the national community support and service crisis. To address this, we are establishing a Care Support Working Group in January 2023. The group will identify policy and advocacy initiatives to improve care support services for people with diverse disabilities across the country.

Join this working group to collaborate with fellow advocates and find solutions to this national crisis.

JOIN A WORKING GROUP

For more information, please contact Grassroots Advocacy Manager Annie Streit at astreit@unitedspinal.org.