Despite a scorching heatwave with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, nearly 100 wheelchair users from 37 states held over 150 congressional meetings at Roll on Capitol Hill 2025. ROCH is our community’s opportunity to assert our own policy agenda in response to the anti-disability backlash.
It is also a much-needed occasion to celebrate our power, our reach, and our tenacity — together. We used our collective voice to advocate for Medicaid funding, accessible transportation and improved wheelchair repair and service reform.
And even though the bill slashing Medicaid funding by nearly a trillion dollars passed into law, “It’s important to remember that nothing in this line of work is static or immovable. Some very bad things may become law, but they can be undone,” says Advocacy and Policy Senior Director, Steve Lieberman.
“Community is as important as the work. Let’s not lose sight of that.” Here are powerful reflections from attendees.
Andrea Dalzell — New York
What a privilege it is to be #disabled in #America. I can roll up to the Capitol, call out the government’s failures, and not be jailed for it — just overlooked, underfunded, and told to ‘be patient.’
But let me be clear: I didn’t come this far to whisper. I came to make #policy personal.
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Tamara Roberts-Blackwell — Kansas
This isn’t about politics. This is about people. About the right to live independently, thrive in our communities, and have our needs not just acknowledged, but prioritized.
I won’t stop showing up. I won’t stop speaking up. Because we deserve a future that fits all of us.
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Ali Ingersoll — North Carolina
Advocacy is a long, often behind-the-scenes process, and it’s definitely not glamorous. But it matters. When we do this work together, we move the needle toward independence, dignity, and real change.
Namel TapWaterz Norris — New York
I had the honor of meeting Rep. Nicholas Langworthy’s team during @unitedspinal Roll On Capitol Hill last week, and ended the meeting with a verse because my voice and story deserve to be heard! Tag someone who turns their pain into power. Keep pushing. Keep rolling!
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Shanta Abe Favors — Michigan
I am here with other incredible advocates from across the nation, our spirits are united by a singular mission — to elevate the voices of millions of disabled Americans. This is more than a meeting; it is a movement.
Together, we are sharing our powerful stories and experiences with members of Congress, bringing to the forefront the urgent needs of our community.
Katie Frayer — Michigan
The conversations I had with other members of United Spinal, company representatives, and legislators were all collaborative in our efforts to create a better, more accessible future. At the end of the day, disability is a bipartisan issue.
Tamara Lee Green — Louisiana
These are not fringe issues — they touch nearly every household in our community. That’s why it’s so important that our voices — those directly impacted — are heard and supported.
The fight doesn’t end when I return home. It continues in every conversation, every meeting, every moment we push for change.
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Connor Gow — New York
United Spinal Association is all about making the world more inclusive for us disabled folks. They work to improve our current struggles that we face on a day-to-day basis.
It’s completely free to join as a member! There is power in numbers, and the more people we have to advocate, the better our lives can become.
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The fight is far from over. Join our Grassroots Advocacy Network. Take action and contact your member of Congress. Support our Advocacy Impact Fund.