Washington Chapter: Ramping Up Advocacy and Connection


In the past two years, the Washington chapter’s Build-A-Ramp program provided nine ramps.
In the past two years, the Washington chapter’s Build-A-Ramp program provided nine ramps.

As one of Washington state’s most renowned trial lawyers and only the second woman in the state to be named a Top 10 Super Lawyer, Karen Koehler long ago proved herself in the courtroom. But in 2010 she found herself looking for a way to give back to the community outside the courtroom. A case with a quadriplegic client opened her eyes to some of the harsh realities facing the SCI community and she identified a need and the opportunity to make a difference. “I was really discouraged in trying to help him access resources. I figured I’d just go to the spinal cord injury association of Washington and there was none. So that started the process of starting the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Washington.”

Since its inception, SCIAW has partnered with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, launched a peer mentoring program and built up a hugely successful annual Walk and Roll event that drew almost 350 people last fall while raising $35,000 to support the association’s mission. The fifth annual Walk & Roll is scheduled for Oct. 4.

Last year, SCIAW signed on as a chapter of United Spinal with hopes of tapping into the organization’s background in advocacy. “We’ve looked into some advocacy  locally and we’re not stopping it, we’re just not mobilized to do anything yet. We’re very, very excited,” says Koehler.

Build-A-Ramp

One area the association has mobilized in is ramp construction. Two years ago SCIAW launched its Build-A-Ramp program, aiming to help people with SCI get the ramps they need to live in their homes. SCIAW members work with therapists and discharge workers to identify individuals in need and then figure out the best way to ensure that individual gets a ramp.

“It’s almost always for people who are recently discharged from the hospital and have no idea how they are going to get back into the house,” says Koehler.

Over the last two years the association has aided in the construction or securing of nine ramps. From lengthy, twisting ramps with handrails, to suitcase ramps, they’ve seen it all. Whether someone has secured the funding for a ramp but can’t find anyone to build it, or they have the builder but no materials, or they simply have no idea where to turn, the Build-A-Ramp program is there to help. Koehler has enlisted the help of clients with construction backgrounds for the bigger projects and often gets materials donated from local businesses. Washington’s rugged terrain creates a lot of need for the program, but sometimes proves too big an obstacle to overcome. “We live in the Pacific Northwest and there is not much flat land here,” she says. “Sometimes we have to turn people down because we can’t build ramps for what they want.”

Accessing and socializing with other paralyzed individuals can be equally, if not more important than accessing your home after an injury. To help paralyzed individuals do just that, SCIAW member Kenny Salvini, a quad, launched the Here and Now Project. The Project hosted two big get-togethers in 2014, including the after-party for the SCIAW’s Walk and Roll, and is looking to expand in its second year. “We find that people really want to get together so that’s what The Here and  Now Project is focusing on, trying to pull people get together.”


Spotlight: Seattle

by Koti Hu and Kenny Salvini

kenny
Kenny Salvini

My Take

Nestled in the Puget Sound with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascades to the east, Seattle’s diverse landscape offers outdoorsmen like myself plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy nature. There is a wide array of organizations working to get people with disabilities outdoors with adaptive equipment for sports of all kinds.

In the winter, the incredible volunteer staff with Outdoors for All straps me in to one of their adaptive skis for an exhilarating day on the slopes at Snoqualmie Pass. And when the summer gets hot, you’ll find me out on Green Lake or the Interurban Trail, pulling my girlfriend on her longboard with my power chair as my service dog, Hank, trots happily alongside.

Even when the weather takes a turn towards the long rainy season, there are still plenty of opportunities to connect and have fun indoors. Whether it’s wheelchair basketball, quad rugby, or just catching a movie in IMAX at the Seattle Science Center, there really is no excuse for your event calendar to ever be empty.

Skinny on the City

Seattle is the largest city in Washington and the cultural epicenter of the Pacific Northwest. With an ever-expanding public transit system and a whole slew of accessible parks, trails and concert venues, there’s no secret why the Emerald City is consistently named one of the most livable cities in the country for people living with disabilities.
— Kenny Salvini

Seattle-5

Getting Around

Living a mere eight minutes by wheelchair from the heart of Seattle, I find wheeling is often the easiest way for me to venture into the busy downtown area. This way I don’t have to worry about finding accessible parking, especially with our highly abused disabled parking placard system — fraudulent use of placards was reported to be at 60 percent in 2013. Some hills can be dicey, but not problematic for power chairs. Although known for frequent rainfall, Seattle’s is typically just drizzle. Still, that can be enough to require taking our accessible ferry, bus, and light-rail systems at times. There’s also Access, a system of small buses that are especially equipped to handle only persons with disabilities. But be prepared for a potentially frustrating trip. Wait times can be hellish! Despite its shortcomings, Access is still handy in a pinch, especially if paired with our other public transportation systems.

Health Care

The University of Washington and Harborview rehab clinics are two functionally separate clinics that were recently consolidated under UW — the same attending physiatrist oversees a person’s care. My experience as someone who went through both inpatient and outpatient rehab there has been overwhelmingly positive. With a number of other rehab clinics within the Seattle area, the availability of quality SCI medicine here is excellent. Also notable is the UW-based SCI Forum, attended by students of SCI medicine as well as injured persons and their supporters. In the monthly forums, experts and panelists present on issues of living with SCI and related topics, like breakthroughs in SCI medicine and demonstrations of new assistive technology. The Forum has been an essential part of my recovery from SCI.

Must See, Must Do

Venue: For a unique picnic spot, check out Kubota Gardens in South Seattle. Blending Japanese landscaping with Northwest horticulture, the city’s deep Pacific Rim influences are on full display in the 20 acres of beautifully sculpted terrain. The garden’s mix of paved and gravel trails can be a little difficult to navigate at times, but you’ll be glad you got your wheels dirty once you get a glimpse of the breathtaking scenery.

Sports: CenturyLink Field is notorious for the Seahawks and the 12th man, but the weather during football season can be a little harsh. Get tickets for the Sounders in the spring or summer and you’ll be transported to a raucous European soccer stadium in an instant. The ample accessible seating gives you just enough separation from the fray of rabid fans with their crazy outfits and organized chants. It’s an experience unlike any other!
— Koti Hu


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