Disability Rights Washington

Take the Week Without Driving PGH Pledge & advocate for better mobility options for non-drivers in Allegheny County

https://www.wpdhac.org/take-the-week-without-driving-pgh-pledge-advocate-for-better-mobility-options-for-non-drivers-in-allegheny-county/

Image: A man in a wheelchair near a mobility-accessible van with a wheelchair ramp extended. The background features an outdoor scene with a sidewalk and a road alongside it. Trees line the road, and a car can be seen in the distance. In the middle of the image, black and yellow text reads, "Week Without Driving PGH, Sept 30 - Oct 6. Take the Pledge. Call for change."

Week Without Driving Registration Kick off

Join the Week Without Driving Pledge and kickoff event in partnership with Transportation Solutions, USG Sustainability Committee, Sustainability Council, and C+V. Chances to win prizes for pledging to only take sustainable modes of transportation for Week Without Driving Sept 30-Oct. 6!

https://www.du.edu/events/week-without-driving-registration-kick

Image: a group of cyclists, including both children and adults, riding on a designated bike lane along a street. The one leading in a high-visibility reflective jacket, the children are wearing helmets and riding their bikes. The street is lined with trees, and the group is riding in an orderly line, indicating a well-organized event such as a "bike bus," where children ride together to school.

Disability Rights Washington’s Week Without Driving

Disability Rights Washington “created the Week Without Driving challenge so that policy makers, elected leaders and transportation professionals can begin to understand the barriers nondrivers experience in accessing our communities.”

To learn more: https://www.commuteseattle.com/weekwithoutdriving2024

Image: a person in a motorized wheelchair at a public transit station. They are holding a blue card and tapping it on a yellow ORCA fare card reader to start a ride. The individual is wearing a vibrant red, gold, and black patterned jacket and appears to be focused on the fare machine. In the background, there is a ticket vending machine labeled "Rail Tickets & Fare Cards," with the ORCA logo prominently displayed.

National Week Without Driving is just around the corner!
This year, the challenge runs from September 30 to October 6. Tune in to learn more about the challenge, how it started, and what its main goal is.

https://kxci.org/podcast/national-week-without-driving-with-anna-zivarts/

Image: The image shows a smiling woman (Anna) with short, blonde hair, wearing a grey blazer over a blue top. The background is blurred greenery, suggesting an outdoor setting.

If you can drive or afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit and asking for rides. But for nearly a third of people living in the United States – people with disabilities, young people, seniors and people who can’t afford cars or gas – this is our every day.

https://weekwithoutdriving.org/

Image: the image shows a rainy evening scene at a bus stop. A woman, standing on the left, holds a leopard-print umbrella while wearing a long sweater, red skirt, and boots. On the right, a man stands near the bus stop shelter, facing a woman in a wheelchair. A bus is stopped in front of them, and the wet streets reflect the streetlights

Week Without Driving

Cecelia Black of Seattle, along with Vancouver residents Abby Griffith and Kail Hibbs from the City of Vancouver, navigates a stretch of road without sidewalks after leaving the Vancouver train station on Monday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2024. The journey was part of the city’s "Week Without Driving" proclamation to highlight the importance of mobility access in the region. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)

Learn more at: https://www.columbian.com/photos/galleries/2024/09/17/week-without-driving/

Image: Three individuals are walking down a street. On the left-hand side, one person is in a wheelchair, wearing a floral dress and sneakers. Another person, using a white cane and dressed in a floral-patterned outfit, is smiling. The third individual, standing on the right, is wearing a beige plaid blazer and brown pants, walking beside them. In the background, there are metal bridges, pipelines, and a mix of vehicles, including a black-and-white van and a tanker truck.

September 30-October 6, 2024.Join us for the second Week Without Driving challenge

https://americawalks.org/campaigns/week-without-driving/

Image: the text " WITHOUT DRIVING" is written in bold white letters. The word "DRIVING" is crossed out with a horizontal line, emphasizing the theme of abstaining from driving. The entire text and design are encased within a black circular border.

Free Big Blue Bus Rides Start September 30 – Celebrate Sustainable Transportation

https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/free-big-blue-bus-rides-start-september-30-celebrate-sustainable-transportation



Image: An electric vehicle charging station in focus, with a charging plug in the foreground. In the background, a blue bus with the text "ZERO EMISSIONS" displayed prominently on its front is visible.

Kitsap County joins the Week Without Driving challenge

Kitsap County Commissioners and the Kitsap County Accessible Communities Advisory Committee are proud to participate in the Week Without Driving challenge Sept. 30 through Oct. 6, 2024.

https://www.kitsapgov.com/pages/CountyNews.aspx?FilterField1=ID&FilterValue1=627

Image: The "Week Without Driving" message features black and orange lettering, with the dates Monday, September 30 to Sunday, October 6, on a black background.

Local Motion challenges Columbia community to a week without driving

https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/local/2024/09/11/local-motion-urges-columbia-week-without-driving-challenge/75085808007/



Image: a busy urban street with multiple lanes of traffic and numerous cars moving in both directions. There are several traffic lights and pedestrian crossings visible. The street is lined with brick buildings and trees, and there are banners on the lampposts along the sidewalks.

Get ready for Week Without Driving

This September, The Bike Campaign is participating in and getting the word out about Week Without Driving (WWD), a nationwide event to raise awareness about getting out of cars and using different methods of transportation, including bicycles, from September 30 through Sunday, October 6.

https://thedirt.online/week-without-driving-2024/

Image: a "Bike Lane" sign with a smaller "END" sign below. The background features a bright pink and white radial pattern.

Most Americans don’t think we have many, if any, rites of passage. We do have rites of passage, of course, and one of the most important is learning how to drive.

Image: a person standing on an empty road, surrounded by complex, busy highways full of cars. The white text "A Week Without Driving" is centered, suggesting a challenge to live without driving.

Learn more at: https://disabilityrightsmt.org/a-week-without-driving/

Paratransit Transportation program provides transit services to people in
King County whose disability prevents them from riding traditional buses
and trains. Help Metro create more accessible and equitable mobility services by taking the survey today: kingcounty.gov/metro/FutureOfParatransit



Image: An image with a blue background and the big words "Shape the Future of Access Paratransit" with content “Help shape Metro's Access paratransit mobility services. Are you an Access rider? Or a caregiver or service provider to an Access rider? We want to hear from you. King County Metro is reviewing its Access Paratransit Transportation program that provides transit services to people in King county whose disability prevents them from riding traditional buses and trains. Learn more and take the survey at: kingcounty.gov/metro/FutureOfParatransit “ in the foreground. A QR code beside a white people carrier with yellow, red, and blue stripes at the bottom and the words "Access Transportation" is shown with the door open, allowing a person in a wheelchair to board the vehicle, while the driver assists them.

In one year, King County Metro Access riders boarded 750,000 times and travelled with them for more than 5.5 million miles. What should next year bring? Help us shape the future of Access Paratransit. Learn more and take the survey today: kingcounty.gov/metro/FutureOfParatransit



Image: The image above has a mostly blue background with the words "Do you: Ride access transportation?" while below it is a yellow background with the words: “Access transportation, Take our survey”.

🌟 When Disabled Adults Care for Disabled Youth, Everyone Prospers 🌟

In a world where accessibility and understanding are often lacking, the bond between disabled adults and disabled youth offers a unique source of support and empowerment.

Read the latest article on Rooted in Rights to learn how this relationship not only strengthens the community but also promotes inclusion, understanding, and mutual growth: https://rootedinrights.org/when-disabled-adults-care-for-disabled-youth-everyone-prospers/



Image: An image with a white background showing a group of people of diverse races, skin colors, disabilities, genders, and ages. Children and adults are standing together, supporting each other.

Accessible transit is important.

If you are an Access rider, a caregiver, or a service provider, King County Metro wants to hear from you! Help shape the future of Access Paratransit. Learn more and take the survey today: kingcounty.gov/metro/FutureOfParatransit



Image: An image with a blue background and the words "Shape the Future of Access Paratransit" in the foreground. A white people carrier with yellow, red, and blue stripes at the bottom and the words "Access Transportation" is shown with the door open, allowing a person in a wheelchair to board the vehicle, while the driver assists them.

🚶‍♀️🚲 Join us for the Week Without Driving! 🚗🚫

Monday, September 30 – Sunday, October 6, 2024

Whether you walk, bike, use public transportation, or carpool, this is a powerful way to experience the world from a different perspective. Let's come together to raise awareness about the importance of accessible transportation for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Are you ready to take on the challenge? Sign up and learn more at https://weekwithoutdriving.org!



Image: An image of three people waiting at a bus stop. On the left, a woman wearing a white shirt and an orange skirt is holding an umbrella and a bag. In the middle, a man with a backpack is wearing a black jacket and khaki pants. On the far right, a woman in a wheelchair is wearing a jacket. All three are waiting for the bus in the rain, with a bus passing in the background.

📢 Get Involved with DRW! 📢

Want to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities? There are many ways to get involved with Disability Rights Washington, from volunteering to donating. Join us in our mission to promote equality and inclusion for all.

Learn how you can help at https://disabilityrightswa.org

https://disabilityrightswa.org/donate/


Image: On the left is a person in a wheelchair wearing a blue hat and a green jacket. On the right is a woman in a green jacket and a black skirt, standing next to him and holding the wheelchair with her left hand to assist him. They are standing on a cement floor in front of a grassy field with many people ahead.

Photo by Josh Appel

New Report Alert: “Barriers to the Ballot”

Voting is a fundamental right, but for millions of Americans with disabilities, casting a ballot remains a significant challenge. From inaccessible polling places to restrictive voter ID laws, barriers at the polls continue to disenfranchise many.

In the installment of the Disability Justice Project’s voter accessibility series, disability rights advocates Dom Kelly and Emily Ladau shine a light on the obstacles that could prevent disabled voters from making their voices heard in this critical election year.
Discover the challenges and the fight for voting rights in “Barriers to the Ballot,” by Michaela Quigley: https://disabilityjusticeproject.org/news/barriers-to-the-ballot/

About the Advocates:
• Dom Kelly () is the co-founder of New Disabled South (), fighting for disability rights in the Southern U.S. since 2009.
• Emily Ladau () is a renowned disability rights activist, writer, and author of “Demystifying Disability.” She’s spoken at major platforms, including the U.S. Department of Education and the United Nations.

Photo courtesy Emily Ladau “How can we exercise our right to vote if we can’t get in the building?” asks disability rights activist Emily Ladau. (In the crowd, a woman in a wheelchair with dark hair, sunglasses, and a white shirt held up a paper sign that read: "Honk if you believe that..." in black, "Disability Rights" in blue, and "Human Rights" in purple.)

1 in 4 Americans have a disability. Marlene Sallo of the National Disability Rights Network highlights the intersectional approach needed to achieve disability justice and build a multiracial democracy.

Check out “On What Matters,” a conversation series with Ford Foundation and social justice leaders on the frontlines of change.

Centering Disability Rights and Justice With Marlene Sallo and Hilary Pennington #OnWhatMatters Welcome to "On What Matters," a conversation series in which Ford Foundation leaders talk to our social justice grantees on the frontlines of change.In this ...

Celebrating Disability Pride Month: Share Your Stories!

It’s Disability Pride Month, and we want to hear from you! Share your favorite stories, quotes, and achievements, that highlight the strength and resilience of the disability community.

Image: A person with shoulder-length black hair wearing a white shirt with a six-color flag on a white background with a six-color flag.

Spokane! We hope to see you at the Disability Pride Multicultural event on Saturday 7/27 from 11-3 at Riverfront Park near the fountain. DRW and DDO will be there to hand out swag, get your priority input, and visit! Don't miss this awesome event! Here is a small sample of the swag we'll be handing out. (Image: blue pinwheels in a vase that look like a flower bouquet, sunscreen pouch, rainbow sunglasses, fidget item, rainbow drawstring backpack.)

Join us as we are Building Bridges during this family friendly, free event to celebrate Disability Pride Month. The event will kick off at eleven with a proclamation from the Spokane Mayor about the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act 34 years ago. Multi-cultural dance presentations, folk music by Dan Maher, and a presentation of the Tom McTevia Memorial Accessible Recreation Award to ParaSport Spokane will round out the entertainment. The Memorial Award was first given in 2016, in memory of community activist Tom McTevia. This former cop and Navy veteran was a chair user who advocated for accessibility in Coeur d’Alene before his death in 2015.

A World Market and a Resource Fair will feature over 35 vendors. And there will be a kids area with games, crafts, face painting and sidewalk chalk art.

And be sure to take part in the ADA trivia contest (the answers will be provided throughout the venue!). You can learn something AND you might win some raffle prizes!

If you or someone you know has a disability, you need to come and enjoy an event just for you. This event is fully accessible, including ASL interpreters.

The Origins of Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. We celebrate the history, achievements, and contributions of the disability community in July and every month!

Image: an arm holding a six-color flag waving against a building and blue sky background.

Photo by Stavrialena Gontzou on Unsplash

Embracing Our Journey: A Story of Disability and Queerness

As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, we honor the intersectionality of our identities and the incredible contributions of people like Kathi who continue to move us. Together, we can build a more inclusive, accessible world.

Meet Kathi Wolfe, a 71-year-old q***r, disabled writer and poet who has embraced her identities despite societal stigma. Her transformative experiences at Perkins School for the Blind and connection with the disability and q***r communities highlight the power of resilience and solidarity.

Celebrate Disability Pride Month with us by reading more about Kathi’s inspiring journey on RiR website: https://rootedinrights.org/out-and-proud-at-71-a-retrospective-on-q***rness-and-disability/

Image: A pair of feet wearing white shoes with six colored socks and a white cane.