We all have stories to tell — stories of the inequalities that still exist almost 25 years after the ADA. We still have difficulties with environmental barriers, getting quality jobs, especially without losing services, finding accessible housing, etc. Wouldn’t you like to be part of a group, a tribe of people with a common goal trying to create positive change? This is what the UsersFirst Grassroots Advocacy Network is all about.

As this magazine is being printed, we will be finding out if our first campaign was successful. Emails were sent to over 50 people in over 25 states in early November with the advocacy request to get HR 942/S 948 Complex Rehab Technology legislation passed by the end of 2014. What is CRT? CRT is equipment that is designed and customized to meet our unique functional and mobility needs with the right seating and positioning systems and features such as tilt and recline, sip and puff and hand joysticks. All of us who use wheels in place of our feet for mobility need proper evaluations to help maintain our posture/positioning; the right cushions and back supports that prevent pressure sores; ergonomic and/or lightweight equipment to preserve our mobility. This is CRT.

House legislation was introduced in April 2012 and again in March 2013, followed by a companion Senate bill in May 2013 and since then it has gained 162 House supporters and 22 Senate supporters. Our job as a grassroots network is to educate our members of Congress and make them aware of how hard it is for us to get the right equipment. This is what UsersFirst has always been so good at — getting stories from us to the people who make the big decisions. But it takes more than just one group to share information … it takes everyone to work together to bring awareness to an issue, much less make change.

The UF Grassroots Advocacy Network is building relationships with state legislators and staff, informing them of the contents of the CRT bill and what it really means to the end user, how wrong and/or ill-fitting wheelchairs can actually cause more damage than good. We are building networks of supporters in states across the country so more awareness is brought to all the issues we work on and we are putting a face to the issue — so with your help we can make systems change.

Do you have a story? You may not have experience being an advocate — for yourself or for others, but your story can create the change that gives you increased freedom to live your life. Your story and your voice is important. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. Join UsersFirst and be empowered to make a difference, for yourself and other wheelchair users. We won’t stop when the CRT bill gets passed, we are just getting started.