United Spinal Newsletter | March 2026

 

Navigating NYC Subways in a Wheelchair Less than half of the subway stations in New York City are accessible, and the elevators in those accessible stations are frequently broken. The frustrating result is often a long push through the snow or rain to get to another station. Arielle Rausin shows us a POV of how she navigates America's largest metro system using a pair of Meta AI glasses. Join advocacy efforts and help make subways, buses, trains and air travel more accessible for wheelchair users. Sign up for our working groups. New Mobility Back in Print! New Mobility's Travel and Recreation special issue is out just in time to help you make your spring and summer plans. With in-depth guides to handcycles and home exercise equipment, accessible destination itineraries, personal travel reflections, and much more, this issue — available in print and online thanks to your support — has something for everyone. While we no longer send print issues to all members, you can order a copy of the Travel & Rec Special Edition for $5, and we’ll ship it to you (US addresses only). Anyone who previously donated to our Bring Back Print campaign will also receive a copy. You can also ask your local United Spinal Chapter for a copy. Order Now Support our New Beginning Backpack Initiative Rehabilitation stays after spinal cord injury have shrunk from an average of 110 days in the 1970s to just 37 days in the 2020s. Our New Beginning Backpacks help fill the education gap for people with new spinal injuries as they transition from hospital to community living. In 2025, New Beginnings Backpacks supported 700+ wheelchair users across 32 chapters and hospitals. Each one includes accessibility guides, legal rights information, peer mentor connections, New Mobility magazine, and tools for self-advocacy. They're more than resources. They're lifelines. Help us celebrate 80 years of impact by sponsoring a backpack today. Please Donate How Did You Find a Good Doctor? We all have stories of doctors who just didn’t understand our disability. But finding a good doctor doesn’t always mean finding an expert. Sometimes it means finding one who’s willing to listen, learn and treat you as a partner in your health. If you have a story of a great relationship with your doctor, we want to hear from you. Share your story. Email: skelly@unitedspinal.org.  Work Readiness Program Join United Spinal Association and Allsup for our new Work Readiness program, a virtual series specifically designed for wheelchair users returning to the workforce. Our next meeting will focus on how to curate the perfect resume. Join us on April 21 @ 1pm ET. Sponsored Content The Nuprodx MC6000 Series Mobile Tub Slider Systems combine a commode chair, tub access slider, and in-home mobility chair in one complete solution. Requiring only a single bedside transfer, users can access the toilet and tub without additional lifts. With multiple models and configuration options, it adapts to different users and bathroom layouts. Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) make a real difference every day. This rewarding career helps people with disabilities build the skills they need to live independently, work, and engage in their communities. It’s important work—and we need more people to join this field. Learn more from the Lead Center. Events Get connected with our free virtual events! Join the conversation — there's something for everyone. Click for more information and to register: • Active Project Live • Advocacy Live • Empowering Parental Caregivers • Resource Center Live • Aging with a Disability • Rolling Through Parenthood • Rolling With Pride • Social Hour • Walking Rollers • Work Readiness Program • Women with MS Connect NEW   View All Events

Copyright © 2026 United Spinal Association. All rights reserved.

New Mobility: Travel & Recreation

 

Mar 23, 2026 - View in browser

NEW ISSUE Travel and Recreation Special Print Issue Our Travel and Recreation special edition print issue is now out! It features in-depth recreation and fitness product guides, accessible travel itineraries, personal travel reflections and more. Access the digital edition to see it all and scroll down for a few of our favorite stories from the issue. You can also order a print copy of the issue for $5 (US addresses only). Anyone who previously donated to our Bring Back Print campaign will already be receiving one — keep an eye out in your mailbox! Read the digital edition BUCKET LIST Learning to Let Go on the Camino De Santiago Sarah Smith set out on the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage looking for adventure and a challenge. After six strenuous days working with a passionate support team, she emerged with all that and much more. She chronicles her adventure and writes about the deeper value of accessible travel. PRODUCTS Handcycle Guide Handcycle technology has advanced greatly in the past decade. Bob Vogel explains all the different styles of handcycles available today. Whether you're looking for mellow family rides, off-road adventures, long-distance road rides, or a way to keep pace with nondisabled friends, there's a bike for you. BULLY PULPIT The Hidden Tax on Accessible Travel Ian Ruder took his first international trip in 2025, a two-week adventure through New Zealand’s many wonders. The experiences exceeded his expectations, but coming home he was confronted with something unexpected: emotional exhaustion from the constant access and planning hurdles he had to manage. Still, he says, the disability tax on travel is one that’s worth paying. COMIC Please Remain Seated: Packing Priorities PRO TIPS Adapting Recreation to an Aging Body When you’re new to disability, finding new pastimes takes adaptation and an open mind. Older wheelchair users often need those same skills when confronted with the realities of an aging body. As one longtime wheeler put it: “There are some things my body no longer lets me do. On the other hand there are several lifetimes of things I want to do, and can still try or get better at.”

New Mobility publishes member content for United Spinal Association, whose mission is to empower wheelchair users to achieve their highest quality of life. Join here.

150 Years of Progress: AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting

 

AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting

Registration is now open for the AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting, its historic sesquicentennial  marks 150 years of progress in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).   AAIDD’s Annual Meeting will provide a forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to come together to explore opportunities, strategies, and challenges related to technological progress made in the field of IDD. This major milestone is a time to come together to reflect on the accomplishments of the past and to look forward to a vision of the future for and with people with IDD.   Join us June 22-24, 2026 at the Hilton Chicago. Check out the full lineup of sessions and events.

Register Today!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

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20th Annual Strides For Autism Walk And 2nd Annual 5K Run

 

April 18, 2026
6AM - 12PM
Columbia, SC

The Autism Society of South Carolina will host its 20th Annual Strides for Autism Walk and 5K Run on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Segra Park Baseball Stadium, home of the Columbia Fireflies. The theme for this year’s event is 20 Years of Strides: Every Step Counts and we are thrilled to build on the success of our inaugural 5K by making this our biggest Strides event yet!

• 8:00 a.m.- 5K starts. (Registration opens @ 7:00 a.m.)
• 10:00 a.m.- Walk inside baseball park starts. (Registration opens @ 9:00 a.m.)

The Strides for Autism Walk remains our organization's flagship fundraising event, eagerly anticipated by SCAS self-advocates, their families, service providers, and the wider autism community. As our premier fundraising opportunity of the year, it delivers vital support for our unfunded programs, including:

• ASD/Autism 101 Training
• Community Outreach
• Quality of Life Assistance

ABS Kids is proud to sponsor this event and will be on-site sharing resources and connecting with attendees.

Walk with us as we celebrate community, inclusion, and possibility!

 

Register For the Event 

March 2026: March Into Membership with AAIDD

 

March AAIDD Highlights Benefits AAIDD members are enjoying this month

March into new opportunities for professional growth Unlock exclusive access to professional webinars, leading IDD journals, networking opportunities and more. Discover all the membership benefits waiting for you this month.

Join AAIDD Today!

AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting  AAIDD Members receive discounted conference registration

Registration is Now Open for the AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting  Don’t miss this historic sesquicentennial event bringing together leaders across the IDD field. Become an AAIDD member to take advantage of discounted registration rates. Register today!

AAIDD Journals Leading Peer-Reviewed Journals in the IDD Field Access articles at no cost for AAIDD Members

The March 2026 Issues of the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AJIDD) and Inclusion are Available Now!  Read AAIDD Journals

Ready to Take the Next Step? Join AAIDD and enjoy all these member benefits and more! AAIDD's mission is to promote progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Become a member today! Join AAIDD!