Disability Partnerships

Recognizing Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month

Meet Shanlonder Aiken, one of our own from the Florence Breeze Group Chapter of the SC Spinal Cord Injury Association, who is showing us all what "adapt and overcome" really looks like.

Last year, Shanlonder tried adaptive line dancing for the first time, taught by our adaptive fitness trainer, Elaine. Like a lot of our Spinal Cord Injury community, she didn't realize line dancing in a wheelchair was even possible. That class changed things for her.

The second time around, Shanlonder didn't just show up to learn. She showed up to lead. She wrote her own song, "Roll with It,” And Elaine choreographed the moves to go with it, and Shanlonder taught the whole routine to her SCI peer support group herself.

"Roll with it! Rock with it! Bounce with it! What you gon' do? Roll with it! Rock with it! Bounce with it! Come on through!"

From student to teacher in one season. That's exactly the kind of ripple effect we love to see.

Huge thanks to Elaine for opening the door, and to Shanlonder (Shandell An) for rolling through it and bringing the rest of us with her.

The photos from Play Without Limits are up on our website.

If you were there on Saturday, go find yourself. If you were not, this is what our community at a ballgame looks like when somebody plans for all of them.

All photographs by Brown.

https://www.disabilitypartnerships.org/

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers and those from Howard University’s Physical Therapy program who joined us for Play Without Limits! 🙌🏾

Your time, energy, and dedication helped create a welcoming and inclusive experience where participants could play, connect, move, and enjoy recreation without limits. We’re grateful for the hands-on support you provided and for helping us make accessibility and inclusion a part of every experience.

Thank you for showing up, serving with purpose, and helping us break barriers through accessible recreation! ❤️💙

Want to get involved with Disability Partnerships? Learn more about our programs, volunteer opportunities, and ways you can support our mission: www.disabilitypartnerships.org

Saturday did not happen because of us.

Six organizations put our invitation in front of their own members: Paralyzed Veterans of America, Children's National Hospital, United Spinal Association Metro DC Chapter, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Independence Now, and Adventist HealthCare and Rehabilitation.

And these are the people and companies who helped us pay for the day: United Spinal Association Metro DC Chapter, Adventist HealthCare, MGM National Harbor, Freedom Mobility Solutions, McCandlish Lillard Law Firm, PR Strategists, Tyree Brown Art, and Independence Now.

The Washington Nationals gave us the tickets through their Community Ticket Grant program, and their staff worked through the accessible seating and the entry gate with us for weeks.

A small organization can do something like this. It just cannot do it alone.

The Nationals gave us 150 free tickets for Saturday and we spent most of the summer believing we would not fill them. I know what it takes for a disabled person to get to a ballgame. A ride that fits your chair. A bathroom you can use. An accessible seat. A ticket for the person who comes with you.

The tickets were claimed in days. We went back and asked for more. We had 250 people registered to attend the game. In the words of one of our attendees, Kim Evans, “It was an amazing event! Everyone was so kind and respectful. We felt really loved and included. Thank you so much”

A fun time was had by all. Thank you to everyone who came. Thank you to our partners and the Washington Nationals.

Our Founder & President, Tamara Gallman, received a Governor's Citation from the State of Maryland on Saturday. It was presented at Nationals Park during Play Without Limits, where people with disabilities and their families spent the afternoon at the ballgame together.

Tamara has spent ten years building this organization, and most of that work is the kind nobody sees. The class that runs on a Tuesday night because someone scheduled it. The partner who says yes because she asked three times. The participant who gets a piece of equipment because she found the money for it. She will tell you the recognition belongs to the community. She is right about that, and we are still glad the State of Maryland noticed her.

Last year more than 4,100 people took a free adaptive fitness class with us. Boxing, Zumba, yoga, strength. All of it online, all of it free.

Congratulations, Tamara. And thank you to everyone who was with us on Saturday.

📷 Tyree Brown

🎉 Mental Health Survey Drawing Winners! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who participated in Disability Partnerships’ Mental Health Survey! We received 272 entries and are excited to announce our randomly selected winners:

🏅 1st Prize: Marcus Fred – $100 Amazon Gift Card
🥈 2nd Prize: Rick Yun – $75 Amazon Gift Card
🥉 3rd Prize: Albert Skelton – $50 Amazon Gift Card
🎖️ 4th Prize: Matilda Storm – $25 Amazon Gift Card

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who shared their feedback. Your input is helping Disability Partnerships shape and strengthen our work.

📧 Winners, please contact us at [email protected] to receive your gift card.

Stay tuned for more information about the data and its impact on our program activities!

♿ September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.

Spinal cord injury can change how a person moves through the world—but it should never limit a person’s opportunity to live, connect, work, exercise, or thrive.

At Disability Partnerships, we believe accessibility is more than a ramp or a doorway. It’s access to wellness, community, resources, education, and opportunity.

Through our adaptive wellness programs, equipment support, scholarships, and community partnerships, we work to help remove the barriers that too often stand in the way.

💙 Awareness starts the conversation. Access creates change.

👉 Help us keep breaking barriers:
• Support accessible wellness programs
• Share our resources with someone who may benefit
• Partner with us to expand access in your community
• Donate to help us continue providing opportunities at no cost to participants

🔗 Learn more and get involved: https://www.disabilitypartnerships.org/

🎉 TODAY’S THE DAY! ⚾❤️💙

We’re celebrating 10 YEARS of Disability Partnerships! 🎉

Today, we’re bringing our community together at Nationals Park for a day of access, inclusion, connection, and celebration! ❤️

⚾ Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins
📍 Nationals Park | Washington, D.C.
🗓️ Today — Saturday, September 12
⏰ First pitch: 4:05 PM

From adaptive recreation and wellness to scholarships, grants, and community connection, 10 years of Disability Partnerships has been about breaking barriers and creating opportunities for everyone to belong.

Today is more than a baseball game—it’s a celebration of YOU: our participants, families, volunteers, board members, partners, supporters, and entire Disability Partnerships community. 🫶🏾

Be there. Be part of it. ❤️
Here’s to 10 years of creating access, inclusion, and community—and to many more years ahead!

🎓 Scholarship Spotlight: Congratulations, Lauren!

Please join us in congratulating Lauren Forney, one of our Disability Partnerships Fall 2026 Scholarship recipients! 🎉

Lauren has been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship to support her educational journey.

We enjoyed learning about Lauren’s passion for medicine, her educational journey, and her goals for the future. We are proud to support her as she continues her education and works toward her dream of becoming a physician. 🩺📚

Congratulations, Lauren! We can’t wait to see all that you accomplish. Your future is bright, and we’re honored to be a small part of your journey! 💙❤️