United Spinal Association’s 2022 Roll on Capitol Hill will offer in-person and virtual participation options so advocates from every state can engage directly with federal policymakers on the SCI/D community’s most pressing issues. The new hybrid format will expand the reach of United Spinal’s signature event more than ever before. 

For the event’s first eight years, United Spinal brought wheelchair users and advocates to Washington, D.C., for training and meetings with legislators, but in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic precluded an in-person gathering, and we were forced to cancel the event. The 2021 Roll on Capitol Hill took place entirely online, with a record 214 advocates logging on from 35 states plus the District of Columbia, paving the way for the integration of a permanent virtual option. 

As United Spinal continues to grow our network of registered advocates, which already includes nearly 1,300 people representing more than 90% of congressional districts in all 50 states, we want to make sure that all our elected officials hear directly from their constituents affected by SCI/D. Our new hybrid format will allow us to reach more policymakers and deepen the understanding of the SCI/D experience with a larger coalition of potential allies on Capitol Hill. 

At this year’s Roll on Capitol Hill, we will focus on issues largely familiar to our community and urge lawmakers to take needed action: 

• Access to quality SCI rehab has been slipping over time. We need greater funding for SCI Model Systems and federal regulations to ensure that newly-injured individuals with SCI receive the health care and services they need. 
• Air travel poses serious risks for wheelchair users. We need to improve safety for travelers with disabilities and ensure that wheelchairs are not damaged by airlines. 
• Employment issues continue to plague our community. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the society at large recognized that home and community supports and personal care attendants are critical and saw how job loss can lead to dangerous health situations for members of our community. We must remind legislators of the importance of maintaining PCA support regardless of income level. 
• Adaptive vehicles remain out of reach for many veterans. We are asking the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase support for automobile grants for disabled veterans to enable them to truly participate in their communities. 
• Outdated and restrictive federal regulations prevent many community members from getting the wheelchair that’s right for them. We need better access to life-changing equipment. 

We are very much looking forward to welcoming all of our advocates to this year’s Roll on Capitol Hill, and United Spinal will continue to push forward on policy and advocacy throughout 2022 and beyond. 

You can visit United Spinal’s Action Center for all the latest Roll on Capitol Hill and other policy priorities.