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Lessons we've learned on the long, winding roads of advocacy. Patience and persistence help us to (slowly) change the world.

An interview with Lendel Bright, ADA Coordinator for St. Petersburg, Florida, shows us the wonderful ways his city approaches the opportunity to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. Working with their CAPI committee (Committee to Advocate for Persons with Impairments) they strive to ensure their city is a welcoming place for people of all abilities to visit and live.

Finding accessible facilities should not depend on which US city or town you visit.  But as this story shows, there are still places where folks with disabilities can not safely go.

A company who specializes in autonomous buses shows us the value of understanding the needs of all customer groups - especially customers with  disabilities.

Travel can be challenging when you have a disability, and even more so during a pandemic. This podcast includes observations about a recent trip that included safely and accessibly driving from Florida to upstate New York and back.

So much changed in all of our lives as a result of COVID-19.  But, now that we may have had a chance to "settle-in" to our new reality, this can be a time to re-evaluate how we can get back to work living our best lives, even as our circumstances have changed - again! 

A new year and a new decade give the opportunity to honestly evaluate our situations and plan for our best future possible - even as we deal with disabilities or less-abilities.

The holidays can be challenging times for anyone, but often even more so for people with new or worsening disabilities or less-abilities.  In this episode we again speak with Mona McGregor, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor about strategies for surviving and thriving through the holidays.

Having a basic knowledge about the laws protecting our rights can be very helpful as we stand up for the "reasonable accommodations" we need.

We may need different devices for different purposes.  But knowing which one(s) to take on a trip can result in having to juggle ideas and wheelchairs!  In this episode we talk about choosing between options and making it all work as we travel.

As our less-abilities or disabilities begin to affect our driving, we find that there are professionals who can help.  In this episode we speak with Liz Green, Executive Director of ADED, the Association of Driver  Rehabilitation Specialists.  She talks about the available evaluations, referrals, training and more that their members can provide to help ensure safe driving even as our abilities change.

When disabilities or less-abilities lead us to a retirement from working in our previous jobs and careers, that doesn't have to mean we don't have options.  In this episode we speak with Elaine Mann, the founder of Bizthinkubator (https://www.facebook.com/bizthinkubator) and an expert on business incubators and the role they can play in building our own work situations.  She shows us how connecting with small business resources and other entrepreneurs can help us find unique ways to keep enjoying some of the benefits we had when working, while now accommodating our changed abilities. 

Hearing loss affects large numbers of people, but many don't recognize it, don't realize the importance of treating it and don't even know where to turn for accurate information.  In this episode we speak with our collaborator Joan Weisberg about what she has learned in her journey of progressive hearing loss.

"Ancestry Travel" is a real growth area of the travel industry.  But heading to cities and smaller towns in far away places can be extra challenging when we are having to accommodate our disabilities or less-abilities.  In this episode I speak about traveling around Tallinn and beyond in my parents' beautiful homeland of Estonia.  

In this episode we speak with Joan Weisberg, a friend and collaborator whose progressive hearing loss taught her about the many aspects of adjusting to changing abilities.  We discuss some of our common experiences regardless of specific disabilities or "less-abilities".

When illnesses, accidents or simple aging brings us disabilities or “less-abilities”, we often need to find new ways to keep living our best lives.  In this episode, we are, again, joined by Joanne Laflin certified ICF coach.  She shares her thoughts about how to find  resources by first addressing our individual wants and needs and reaching out to others for support and ideas.

It takes a lot of effort to plan a successful and enjoyable road trip.  And even more so when it is in a foreign country.  And even more than that when it involves a wheelchair!  In this episode we talk about what we found in traveling through Ireland!

The world of non-driving can be a real challenge.  But in this episode we look at how to find available transportation resources in your community. Seeking out and trying the available systems can bring back our sense of freedom and be a new adventure.

Diet, and nutrition are major issues for everyone.  They can take on special dimensions when we have new or worsening disabilities or “less-abilities”. In this episode we speak with Mary Twohey and Bob Bouchard of UBee Nutrition about their unique approach to product development and manufacture.

When we, as people with disabilities or less-abilities, see areas where access is unsafe, and notify those who can correct them, we make our worlds safer for everyone.  Our unique points of view help make us very valuable safety sentinels!