Be an online volunteer for the Autism Society of America this April

 

Dear Friends, When we think of volunteering, we often picture in-person events, but some of the most impactful "boots on the ground" work happens right from your phone or computer. This April, we need volunteers to support our fundraising efforts! The "Top 5" Challenge To show our appreciation, our top five fundraisers will receive an exclusive Autism Society of America gift bag filled with special branded items! How your advocacy makes a difference: By leading a team or a personal fundraiser, you are directly fueling the work that allows us to: Foster Life Essentials: Develop programs that provide support through every stage of life. Modernize Support: Update our technology to connect with and assist our community at a faster pace. Drive Public Policy: Maintain a leading voice in advocacy to ensure real-world change. It takes less than five minutes to get started! We've created a simple guide that you can use to promote your fundraiser through social media or email. 🔗 Access the guide here  Click below to launch your campaign and become a Champion for Autism!

Click to Get Started as a Champion!

Want to help even more? Share this email with three friends and help grow our fundrasing network. With gratitude, Your team at the Autism Society of America  Gift bag eligibility applies to those participating in the Autism Acceptance Month Fundraiser linked above. Winners will be notified on May 1st.

Visit Website

Donate

Shop

Get Support

Follow Us

Help Line 800.328.8476

AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting - Reserve Your Room Today!

 

AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting The AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting will be here before we know it, offering a unique opportunity to come together during a milestone year for the organization. Join researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates as they engage in timely conversations addressing opportunities, strategies, and challenges related to technological progress made in the field of IDD. Register Here Reserve Your Room Today The meeting will take place at the Hilton Chicago, located in the heart of downtown Chicago along Michigan Avenue, steps from Grant Park and the city’s cultural attractions. Book your room today to take advantage of  AAIDD's special room rate for conference attendees! Book Your Room! Thank You to Our Sponsors! Learn more about becoming a sponsor

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.