As I wrap up my first year as the president of United Spinal Association, I’ve been thinking about where the organization is and where we need to go.

On the heels of 75 years of advocacy and community building, there is a lot to celebrate. It’s no stretch to say that our community would not be where it is, and would not enjoy the freedoms it does today, if not for the efforts of our predecessors.

We have every reason to be proud of all we have accomplished and celebrate our victories, but only if we acknowledge that we are not where we need to be. There is still a lot of work to be done.

The Americans with Disabilities Act changed the way the world thought about disability, but it alone couldn’t stop discrimination against people with disabilities. Thirty-one years later, we’re still not always included. We still don’t have the same access and opportunities that mainstream society enjoys.

The ADA was a big step, but it cannot be the only step. The ADA got us from point A to point B, but we need to get to point Z. We need to build on what we as an organization have accomplished in our first 75 years and start thinking about and fighting for ADA 2.0. We need to push beyond where we are to true inclusion and equality.

Getting there isn’t going to be easy. We won’t get where we want to go by going alone or being divided. United Spinal is perfectly positioned to unite all of the stakeholders and lead this effort. With our 49 chapters, 59,000 members and our extended hospital and corporate networks, we can reach farther and speak with a more diverse and authentic voice than any other SCI/D organization.

Now, more than ever, we need to coordinate our efforts. We need to identify our allies and stakeholders and motivate them like they’ve never been motivated before. We can be the spark that ignites the broader disability community and the vision that helps guide it. We can bring together our members, staff, and corporate partners to make the changes we want and need, both nationally and locally.

Equality and inclusion are two of the biggest buzzwords in society right now, but it’s up to us to challenge everyone who claims to champion these goals. We have to ask legislators, companies and our friends, family and neighbors if they really want to be inclusive. We have the ability to hold them accountable and show them the steps they actually need to take if they truly want to make the world accessible and equal for people with disabilities.

As an organization, United Spinal has been doing this since its inception in 1946. As members and disabled people, we do it all the time — our advocacy can be as simple as explaining the need for disability parking to a friend or as complicated as working with elected officials to pass legislation.

So, as we take time to celebrate United Spinal’s 75th anniversary, let’s use this historic moment to reflect, re-energize and refocus. We are better positioned and more committed than we ever have been to lead the rolling revolution, and we’re counting on your support to help us bring about a world where people with disabilities are truly equal and included.

Register for United Spinal’s free 75th Anniversary Gala.