ROAR

Cruising has become one of the most accessible ways for people with disabilities to experience the world, and I genuinely believe the cruise industry deserves credit for the tremendous progress it has made over the years.

As a C7 quadriplegic who has cruised numerous times, I’ve experienced firsthand how accessibility can provide freedom, independence, and the opportunity to create memories that might otherwise seem impossible.

But accessibility is a journey—not a destination.

One of the biggest misconceptions is the difference between an ADA-compliant cabin and a fully wheelchair-accessible cabin.

Cruise ships typically offer three types of accessible accommodations:

• Ambulatory Accessible Cabins – Designed for guests with limited mobility who can stand and transfer. These often include grab bars, lower thresholds, and other safety features.

• Accessible Cabins – Provide additional maneuvering space and accessibility features.

• Fully Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins – Designed for travelers who rely on wheelchairs full-time. These cabins include wider doorways (at least 32 inches), roll-in showers, accessible sinks and bathrooms, lower controls, and enough turning space for both manual and power wheelchairs.

If you can safely stand, transfer, or use a standard bathroom, you may not actually need one of these limited fully wheelchair-accessible cabins.

**Leaving those rooms available for travelers who truly depend on them can make the difference between someone taking the vacation of a lifetime—or having to stay home.

One of the things I appreciate most about cruising is that many companies now rent mobility and medical equipment—including scooters, power wheelchairs, Hoyer lifts, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, shower chairs, and other essential devices—and deliver them directly to your stateroom before you even board. That level of service has opened the door for thousands of travelers with disabilities to cruise independently.

Modern ships have also made remarkable improvements.

Carnival’s Mardi Gras, for example, features accessible staterooms with push-button doors leading to private balconies, accessible dining venues, independent accessible restrooms throughout the ship, elevators, ramps, accessible entertainment seating, and many thoughtful design features that promote independence.

However, accessibility doesn’t stop at the ship.

Our recent inaugural cruise to Celebration Key reminded me of that.

The ship itself was wonderful.

The destination was another story.

Nearly every adults-area was surrounded by deep sand, making it impossible to independently access with either a manual or power wheelchair. Even the food truck area lacked solid accessible pathways.

Their proposed solution was approximately twenty balloon-tire PVC beach wheelchairs.

For many full-time wheelchair users, those aren’t a solution at all.

We were expected to transfer out of our own customized wheelchairs, leaving them unattended near the kid pools and commons areas, and rely on someone else to push us through the dense sand. That’s not independence—that’s dependence.

The disappointing part is that simple, proven solutions already exist.

Installing Mobi-Mats across the sand would have allowed people using wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and other mobility devices to independently reach every area. Instead, expensive accessibility features were installed that still left major barriers. One beach access ramp ended nearly twenty feet from firm ground, requiring wheelchair users to cross loose sand before reaching the beach. Small design oversights like this have enormous impacts on independence.

These experiences reinforce something we’ve believed for years:

Nothing about us should be designed without us.

Had even one full-time wheelchair user been included in the planning meetings, many of these issues likely would have been identified long before construction began—saving money while creating a far more inclusive experience for everyone.

Accessibility isn’t simply checking an ADA compliance box.

It’s understanding how people actually move through a space.

Another challenge many wheelchair users experience on cruise ships is something most passengers never think about: ELEVATORS.

During peak times, elevators become packed with strollers, luggage, and able-bodied passengers. Many people can simply choose the stairs.

We cannot.

I’ve waited through multiple full elevators just to travel one or two decks. That can mean missing dinner reservations, shows, excursions, or simply spending valuable vacation time waiting instead of enjoying the experience.

A little awareness goes a long way.

If you’re able to safely use the stairs during busy times, consider doing so. That simple act of kindness can make a tremendous difference for someone whose wheelchair is their only means of mobility.

It also raises an important question:

Should cruise lines consider designating one elevator during peak embarkation, debarkation, and event times as a priority elevator for guests using wheelchairs and other large mobility devices?

Another opportunity would be expanded priority boarding and debarkation for travelers with significant mobility equipment.

This isn’t about receiving special treatment.

It’s about improving safety, reducing congestion, minimizing stress, and allowing everyone to begin and end their vacation with dignity.

Accessibility also extends beyond the ship itself.

Some cruise ports require passengers to transfer to smaller tender boats because the ship cannot dock directly at the pier.

Unfortunately, many of these tenders cannot safely accommodate larger power wheelchairs or complex mobility devices, meaning some guests are unable to go ashore despite paying for the same itinerary.

The ADA has transformed accessibility throughout the cruise industry, but regulations alone aren’t enough.

True accessibility comes from thoughtful design.

It comes from empathetic communication.

It comes from inviting people with disabilities to the planning table before decisions are made—not after construction is complete.

The best accessibility solutions don’t come from guessing what wheelchair users need.

They come from asking us.

*Empathetic dialogue.

*Lived experience.

*Real collaboration.

That’s how we build a world where everyone belongs.

Sometimes accessibility isn’t about building something new.

Sometimes it’s simply making room for someone else to belong.

Often times inclusion is achievable with a little forward thinking. No matter how you get there, find new ways to .

. . . . . . . .
. .
.
.
.
Jay Youngblood.
Mike Hudson.
ROAR.
D.j. Haynes.
Jeremy Kerr.
Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival Cruise Line Entertainment. CARNIVAL MARDI GRAS CRUISERS - OFFICIAL GROUP. Carnival Cruise Lines Chat, Tips, Reviews and Fun.

The greatest barrier to employment after a life-changing injury is often not the disability itself—it’s the system.

For thousands of Americans who sustain a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation, or progressive neurological condition, the question isn’t simply, “Can I work again?”

It’s, “Can I afford to?”

Our current disability support systems often force people into an impossible position. Earn too much, and you risk losing Medicaid, Medicare, personal care attendants, or other essential supports that make independent living possible. Stay below arbitrary income and asset limits, and you may preserve the services you need—but sacrifice financial independence, career advancement, and long-term financial security.

That’s not empowerment.

That’s dependency by design.

The numbers tell a troubling story:

• Nearly 1 in 4 Americans lives with a disability, yet people with disabilities remain dramatically underrepresented in executive leadership and C-suite positions.

• The employment rate for working-age adults with disabilities consistently trails that of adults without disabilities by more than 30 percentage points.

• Individuals who acquire a spinal cord injury often experience significant declines in workforce participation, even after returning to school, earning advanced degrees, or obtaining additional certifications.

• Research continues to show that many people with disabilities are overeducated for the positions they hold and underpaid for the value they bring.

As a C7 quadriplegic, I know this reality isn’t just statistical—it’s personal.

Too many employers still see a wheelchair before they see experience.

They see perceived limitations before they recognize leadership.

They focus on accommodations before they recognize ability.

Yet living with a disability requires resilience, adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, perseverance, and innovation every single day. These are the very qualities organizations claim they seek in their leaders.

The workforce doesn’t need to lower its expectations of people with disabilities.

It needs to raise its expectations of itself.

At ROAR, we believe inclusion extends far beyond accessible trails, fishing piers, and outdoor recreation. True inclusion means creating pathways to education, meaningful employment, leadership opportunities, entrepreneurship, and economic independence.

Disability should never define a person’s ceiling.

The question shouldn’t be:

“Can someone with paralysis work?”

The real question is:

“When will our systems stop standing in their way?”

This is not to suggest that every person with a disability wants to work or is able to work. Every disability, every injury, and every family circumstance is different. Rather, this reflects the lived experiences of many of our ROAR members who have discovered that while life moves forward, careers often do not—not because of a lack of ability, but because of systemic barriers.

In many cases, the systems we must navigate become more debilitating than the accident, illness, or diagnosis that caused the disability in the first place.

Disability should never stifle our passions. Sometimes it simply changes our mission. We adapt, we find new ways to contribute, and we continue to advocate.

It’s time to reassess what employment after a “permanent disability” should look like.

Too often, individuals remain financially close to poverty simply to maintain access to essential services and waivers, such as HASCI, that allow them to live independently and participate in their communities.

We should also have an honest conversation about family income calculations. Many spouses become the primary wage earner while simultaneously taking on tremendous caregiving responsibilities.

Likewise, we should reevaluate policies surrounding paid family caregiving. In many situations, spouses are excluded from compensation despite carrying some of the heaviest caregiving responsibilities—while non-family caregivers may be eligible for payment. That policy deserves thoughtful review.

These issues won’t apply equally to every household, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But they deserve thoughtful discussion grounded in real lived experiences.

My hope is simple: that policymakers, employers, and communities begin to understand the world from our seats—not just our circumstances, but our potential.

It’s time to move beyond awareness and toward opportunity.

Because disability should never determine someone’s economic future.

Let’s keep the conversation moving forward.

Let’s find new ways to .

.
. . . . .
. .
.
.
.
.
.ROAR. Mike Hudson. United Spinal Association. D.j. Haynes. Jeremy Chapman. Jay Youngblood. Jeremy Kerr. Paralyzed Veterans of America. Challenged Athletes Foundation. Senator John Kennedy. Rep. John McCravy. Tim Scott. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council. South Carolina Partnership of Disability Organizations.

The Broken System of Air Travel for Passengers with Physical Disabilities.

Every time a passenger with a physical disability boards a domestic flight, they are reminded that accessibility is still treated as an accommodation rather than a right.

We’re the first passengers on the aircraft and the last ones off. We pay the same ticket price as everyone else, yet our travel experience is fundamentally different and flawed.

The first thing we’re asked to do is surrender the one piece of equipment that provides our freedom, independence, security, and mobility—our wheelchair. For many of us, our wheelchair isn’t luggage. It’s our legs. Yet it disappears into the cargo hold, where it can be damaged, destroyed, or lost before we ever reach our destination.

Once onboard, the barriers continue.

There is still no accessible restroom on the overwhelming majority of domestic aircraft. If a wheelchair user needs to use the restroom during a flight, they’re often forced into an impossible choice: dehydrate themselves before flying, risk a medical complication, or raise their hand and ask a flight attendant to bring a privacy sheet so they can relieve themselves in their assigned seat.

No other group of passengers is expected to sacrifice their dignity simply because they purchased an airline ticket.

Research continues to demonstrate what the disability community has known for decades:

• 61% of wheelchair users surveyed reported their mobility device had been damaged during air travel.
• 81% reported difficulty or were unable to access an aircraft restroom.
• 60% waited 2–4 months for repairs or replacement after wheelchair damage.
• Many described flying as stressful, humiliating, anxiety-inducing, and emotionally exhausting.

This isn’t about asking for special treatment.

It’s about equal treatment.

It’s about protecting the mobility equipment people depend on every single day. Our LEGS

It’s about accessible restrooms that preserve dignity.

It’s about recognizing that accessibility is not a luxury—it’s a civil right.

The Americans with Disabilities Act transformed accessibility on the ground. It’s time for our nation’s domestic airline industry to demonstrate the same commitment in the sky.

Until passengers with disabilities can travel with the same dignity, independence, assured, and safety as everyone else, the system remains broken.

Equal ticket. Equal access. Equal dignity.

. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .
United Spinal Association.
Mike Hudson. Michal Parker. Jeremy Chapman. Jay Youngblood. D.j. Haynes. Chastity Gambrell Miller. Michael Rousey. Senator Josh Hawley. Rep. John McCravy. Challenged Athletes Foundation. American Airlines. Delta Air Lines. Greenvillecan. Paralyzed Veterans of America.

A wheelchair should never cost more than a car… and yet, for many of us, it does!

For those who don’t rely on one every day, a wheelchair may look like equipment.

To us, it’s our LEGs.

It’s our independence.
It’s our freedom.
It’s our ability to work, worship, raise our families, and simply survive.

Without it, we cannot thrive.

Last month, we had the privilege of joining United Spinal Association in Washington, D.C.(via Zoom), where we met with six members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation. Together, we advocated for legislation that puts people before paperwork.

One victory is already in motion.

The House passed the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, which would finally allow Medicare beneficiaries to pay only the difference when choosing an ultralight carbon fiber or titanium wheelchair instead of forcing them to pay the entire cost up front. It’s a commonsense change that costs taxpayers nothing while giving people access to equipment that truly meets their medical needs and is more robust.

But our work is far from over.

The reality is that too many people are still waiting weeks and months for medically necessary repairs or replacement wheelchairs. A broken wheelchair isn’t an inconvenience—it’s a medical emergency.

Pressure injuries develop.
Appointments are missed.
People lose their jobs.
Families are forced to become full-time caregivers.
Lives are put on hold and many individuals with disabilities feel more marginalized and unheard.

Far too often, large DME companies see a work order, a repair ticket, or a stack of paperwork.

They need to see the person behind it.

That sheet of paper isn’t just parts and labor.

It’s someone’s ability to get out of bed.
To go to work.
To pick up their child.
To attend church.
To simply leave their home.

Learn to see the individual—not just the chair.

Even more concerning, some suppliers are now requiring a wheelchair to be damaged beyond a certain percentage before they’ll approve a replacement. That mindset ignores the fact that wheelchairs are medically prescribed mobility devices—not consumer products to be run into the ground.

Most people with disabilities live on fixed incomes. They cannot afford thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs while waiting months for approvals, repairs, or replacements.

They cannot pay astronomic rates in hopes of “potential” reimbursements.

Advocacy isn’t about asking for luxury.

It’s about demanding timely access to medically necessary equipment that allows people to live with dignity and independence.

These chairs are not a want.

They are a NEED.

The fight continues in the Senate, and it continues here at home. Every email, every phone call, every conversation with an elected official helps move us one step closer to a system that values people over process.

Advocacy takes all of us.

Let’s continue to band together and make this community one link tighter.

.

.
. . .
. . .
.
. . . .
.
Challenged Athletes Foundation.
Mike Hudson. ROAR. Jay Youngblood. Rep. John McCravy. David Stumbo. Senator John Kennedy. Tim Scott. Michal Parker. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. Senator Josh Hawley. Paralyzed Veterans of America. D.j. Haynes. Jeremy Chapman. Chastity Gambrell Miller. Jeremy Kerr. Michael Rousey.

Recently, we completed some grassroots advocacy culminating with interactions with six of our South Carolina lawmakers during Roll on Capitol Hill (ROCH) and celebrated the first steps associated with upgrades to Wheelchair materials and cheaper cost to end users as well as celebrating the 36th year of the passage of the ADA.

However, advocacy doesn’t stop on first steps or during celebrations, therefore, we must be vigilant and pressing forward and striking while the proverbial iron is hot. During our session with United Spinal Association, one of the points of reference was associated with fast tracking wheelchair repairs.

Our wheelchairs are not a luxury. They are our legs, our independence, our livelihood, and our freedom.

When a caster breaks, a joystick fails, a footplate cracks, or a battery reaches the end of its life, the clock starts ticking. Unfortunately, under our current Medicare-driven repair process, that clock often stretches into weeks or even months.

Before many repairs can even begin, we’re often required to schedule a face-to-face visit with our physician to “re-establish medical necessity”—for equipment that has already been prescribed, approved, and deemed medically necessary.

That requirement simply doesn’t reflect reality.

Most wheelchair users already complete annual Medicare evaluations, routinely see specialists, and work closely with their rehabilitation teams. Over time, we become subject matter experts in our own bodies, our mobility, and our equipment. A trusted relationship between the wheelchair user, their physician, and their Complex Rehab Technology provider should be enough to authorize preventative maintenance and medically necessary repairs.

Instead, we wait.

We wait for appointments.
We wait for paperwork.
We wait for approvals.
We wait for parts.
We wait while our independence slips away.

Our wheelchairs are highly customized, incredibly sophisticated pieces of medical equipment. They’re built specifically for each individual, which also means breakdowns require specialized parts and trained technicians. With few if any local “mom-and-pop” providers to compete against multi-billion-dollar corporations, repairs often become trapped in a system that prioritizes process over people.

The order sitting on someone’s desk isn’t just another work order.

It’s a person trying to get to work.
It’s a parent trying to care for their child.
It’s a student trying to get to class.
It’s someone trying to attend church, buy groceries, or simply get out of bed with dignity.

The FAST Repairs for Wheelchairs Act is about recognizing that unnecessary administrative delays shouldn’t keep people trapped in their homes while waiting for paperwork to catch up with common sense.

It’s time to modernize the repair process, reduce unnecessary barriers, and ensure timely access to preventative maintenance and essential repairs.

Learn to see the person—not just the chair.

.
Mike Hudson. Jay Youngblood. Jeremy Chapman. Challenged Athletes Foundation. D.j. Haynes. Michael Rousey. Paralyzed Veterans of America. ROAR. Chastity Gambrell Miller. Jeremy Kerr. Greg Traynor. Kim Ravenscraft Harrison.

Day 3 with Greenville Technical College’s Physical Therapy Students

Today marked the conclusion of our third and final session with Greenville Technical College’s Physical Therapy students, and what an incredible way to wrap up the week.

This group definitely set the bar high. Their curiosity, thoughtful questions, and willingness to engage made for some of the most meaningful conversations we’ve had. Every question reflected a genuine desire to understand not just spinal cord injury, but the individual living with it.

For the first time, students had the opportunity to get hands-on with range of motion assessments and practical evaluations. That’s certainly not a knock on the previous groups—each cohort brought something unique—but today’s students eagerly embraced every opportunity to learn through experience. It gives us tremendous hope for the next generation of practitioners.

One of the highlights of the day came when several students took on our adaptive frisbee golf course using manual wheelchairs equipped with off-road tires. As the terrain became more challenging, they transitioned into our Trackchairs, experiencing firsthand how adaptive technology can transform what seems impossible into something achievable. There is no substitute for experiencing the world from a wheeled perspective.

Throughout the week, our conversations extended far beyond anatomy and therapy techniques. We discussed empathy over sympathy, the realities of ableism, the importance of ADA accessibility, and the everyday barriers many individuals with disabilities continue to face. We talked about advocacy in real time and how inclusion begins by seeing the person before the diagnosis.

The greatest lesson we hope these future therapists carry forward is that successful rehabilitation starts with relationships. Get to know your patient. Learn what motivates them. Understand their goals, their passions, and what quality of life means to them. Therapy should never be about simply restoring function—it should be about helping people reclaim purpose, independence, and the life they want to live. Sometimes that also means recognizing the importance of caregivers, respite care, and supporting the entire family along the journey.

Programs like this remind us why partnerships with organizations of higher learning are so valuable. When education moves beyond the classroom and into authentic, lived experiences, everyone grows. Today’s students didn’t just learn about spinal cord injuries—they learned from people living full, meaningful lives after them.

To Greenville Technical College, thank you for believing in hands-on, personalized education and for allowing ROAR to be a small part of shaping tomorrow’s healthcare professionals.

It’s always a blessing when students truly understand the assignment.

Together, we’re building a future where inclusion isn’t just discussed—it’s practiced, one relationship at a time.
.


Jeremy Chapman.
D.j. Haynes. Mike Hudson. Jay Youngblood. Michal Parker. Michael Rousey. Cabela's. Paralyzed Veterans of America. Be Adaptive Equipment. Chastity Gambrell Miller. Greenville Technical College.
Challenged Athletes Foundation. Bass Pro Shops - Greenville, SC

Day 2 with Greenville Technical College’s Physical Therapy students.

Another incredible day spent discussing spinal cord injury, the journey that brought us together, and the responsibility we all share in shaping the future of rehabilitation, advocacy, and inclusion.

As I looked across the ROAR panel today, I couldn’t help but smile at the countless “God winks” that have woven themselves throughout this nonprofit’s journey. None of us would have chosen the path that led us here, yet God has a remarkable way of bringing people together for a purpose far greater than ourselves.

Today’s discussion wasn’t just about spinal cord injuries. It was about leadership from a wheeled perspective. It was about advocacy in real time. It was about recognizing that inclusion begins when we focus on the person in the chair—not the chair itself.

To the future practitioners sitting in that classroom…

Learn the diagnosis, but never stop there.

Take the time to know the individual sitting in front of you. Learn their story, their fears, their dreams, and their goals. Strive to be the catalyst that helps set a positive tone for their new reality. Your words, your attitude, and your willingness to listen may become just as important as any exercise or treatment plan you prescribe.

Life doesn’t stop because of a spinal cord injury. It simply changes your means of transportation.

One of the greatest reminders from today is that God still uses broken vessels. Every member of our panel is living proof that purpose doesn’t disappear after tragedy—it often begins there.

Collectively, today’s ROAR panelists brought more than 131 years of lived spinal cord injury experience to the room. That’s 131 years of victories, setbacks, perseverance, laughter, tears, resilience, and hope—lessons no textbook could ever fully teach.

We shared the realities of life after traumatic injury, the challenges we continue to face, and the determination it takes to rediscover purpose while refusing to let disability define ability.

As we wrapped up, one thought continued to resonate:

We are all influencers. Every single day, someone is watching how we respond to adversity, how we treat others, and how we choose to live. The question isn’t whether we’re influencing people… it’s what we’re inspiring them to do—or to become.

Thank you, Greenville Technical College, for allowing ROAR to once again be a small part of preparing tomorrow’s physical therapists. We are honored to share our stories, and we pray they help shape compassionate clinicians for generations to come.












Mike Hudson. Jeremy Chapman. Michael Rousey. Jay Youngblood. Bass Pro Shops - Greenville, SC. D.j. Haynes. Cabela's. Bass Pro Shops. Michal Parker. Prisma Health Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital. Paralyzed Veterans of America. Be Adaptive Equipment. Chastity Gambrell Miller. Greenville Technical College. Jeremy Kerr

Day 1 with the Greenville Technical College PT Students

To say we’re blessed would be a complete understatement.

For the past several years, ROAR has had the incredible honor of partnering with
Greenville Technical College
during the spinal cord injury portion of its Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy curriculum.

Each year, several of our members living with spinal cord injuries share their personal journeys—from the day of injury through rehabilitation and into everyday life. They discuss their physical and occupational therapy experiences, answer honest questions, and open the door to conversations that simply can’t be learned from a textbook. Together, we get down to the real nitty-gritty of life with a spinal cord injury.

After a healthy dose of questions and discussion, we head outside where the students have the opportunity to experience adaptive outdoor equipment firsthand. They get to explore the Grit Freedom Chair, several models of Trackchairs, manual wheelchairs equipped with off-road tires, handcycles, and other adaptive equipment that helps redefine what independence and recreation can look like.

These conversations are about so much more than rehabilitation. They’re about:

• Setting the tone early for individuals with newly sustained spinal cord injuries.
• Advocacy in real time.
• Promoting an inclusive lifestyle instead of a limited one.
• Treating the person—not the wheelchair.
• Understanding that rehabilitation goals should be personal, meaningful, and tailored to the life each individual wants to return to, whether that’s hunting, fishing, hiking, parenting, working, traveling, or simply enjoying the outdoors again.

As future physical and occupational therapists, these students have the opportunity to shape lives from day one. Our hope is that they leave not only with greater clinical knowledge, but with a deeper understanding that every person they treat has dreams, passions, and goals that extend far beyond the walls of a therapy gym.

Thank you to Greenville Technical College for continuing to invest in your students by allowing them to learn directly from those living this journey every day. Together, we’re helping create therapists who see possibilities instead of limitations. .


Jeremy Chapman. Mike Hudson.
D.j. Haynes.
Michael Rousey.
Jay Youngblood.
The Suitcase of Courage.
Prisma Health Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital.
Bass Pro Shops - Greenville, SC.
Michal Parker.
Be Adaptive Equipment. Paralyzed Veterans of America. Chastity Gambrell Miller. Challenged Athletes Foundation.