Rolling Start Inc. Blog

April 2022

April 5, 2022

The April calendar is here!

Be sure to go to our calendar page here to register for any of our classes online!

Earlier this month, the staff members of Rolling Start Inc. all went to the Abilities Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. We saw all kinds of amazing vendors and exhibits. Here is a video of some of the great booths that we interacted with. Be sure to look them up if you saw anything that interested you and look out for the expo next year so you don’t miss out!

Air Travel by Wheelchair Users

March 22, 2022

DOT to Host Public Meeting on Air Travel by Wheelchair Users

The U.S. Department of Transportation is hosting a virtual public meeting regarding air travel by persons who use wheelchairs on March 24, 2022. During this meeting, there will be an opportunity to listen and learn from persons who use wheelchairs on the difficulties that they encounter during air travel and for airlines to discuss both the challenges that they face in providing accessible air transportation and the actions that they are taking or plan to take to improve the air travel environment. The meeting will better enable the Department to move expeditiously on any necessary action to advance safe accommodations for air travelers with disabilities using wheelchairs.

This meeting will be held via Zoom Video Webinar, and is scheduled for March 24, 2022 from 10:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern. The meeting is open to the public subject to any technical and / or capacity limitations. CART and ASL interpretation will be provided; requests for additional disability-related accommodations must be sent to [email protected] by March 21, 2022.

Actions to take before and during the DOT Meeting:

If you would like to make oral comments or submit written materials to be reviewed during the meeting, you must request do to so by March 21, 2022. Email your request to [email protected]. Make sure to identify which of the four topics you wish to address, or if you plan to address something not mentioned in the notice. (Questions or comments by people who did not make an advance request for oral comments will only be permitted if time allows.)
Invite your Members of Congress to participate in the meeting so they can listen to the perspective of wheelchair-users first-hand.
Highlight this meeting on social media and encourage your family and friends to do the same. Be sure to use #Flightmares and #JustPlaneWrong.
If you get the opportunity to speak, write down 2-3 points you want to make. Keep them brief as you will have a short time to get your point across.
Speak from your own experiences or what you know.
- Introduce yourself (example: “Hello I am Jane, a disabled veteran and wheelchair user….”).
- State exactly what action you want to see (ex. “I want to have safe and timely assistance in getting on and off an airplane”).

Actions to take after the DOT Meeting:

Send your air travel story to your Members of Congress and ask if they will support the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (H.R. 1696 / S. 642), which would improve air travel for people with disabilities by requiring airlines to provide accessible lavatories, ensuring new airplanes are built using new accessibility standards, and increasing enforcement options.
Submit your air travel stories to air-access.org and encourage others to do the same. Also, share them on social media with #Flightmares and tag the Department of Transportation. Be sure to include photos, videos, and graphics about your experience if you have them.
Sign and share PVA’s online petition to pass the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act.

Important social media handles:

Department of Transportation

Facebook: @U.S. Department of Transportation / @USDOT
Twitter: @USDOT

Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Facebook: @Secretary Pete Buttigieg / @SecretaryPete
Twitter: @SecretaryPete

Airlines for America

Facebook: @Airlines for America / @AirlinesForAmerica

Twitter: @AirlinesDotOrg

International Air Transport Association

Facebook: @International Air Transport Association / @iata.org
Twitter: @IATA

Important hashtags:

#JustPlaneWrong
#PushingAccessForward

#Flightmares

World Down Syndrome Day

March 21, 2022

Today is World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

Down syndrome (or Trisomy 21) is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, being universally present across racial, gender or socioeconomic lines in approximately 1 in 800 live births, although there is considerable variation worldwide. Down syndrome usually causes varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability and associated medical issues.

Go to the World Down Syndrome Day website to learn more about advocating for the rights of people with Down syndrome and more!

The best way to promote awareness of Down syndrome is for people with Down syndrome to share their own stories in their own words with the hashtag below.

#WorldDownSyndromeDay

CDC Disabilities Resource Toolkit

March 15, 2022

Online toolkit

The CDC has released an online tool kit which contains guidance tools to help people with disabilities and those who serve or care for them make decisions, protect their health, and communicate with their communities. It contains PDFs with information about vaccinations, guidance, planning, and other Covid related web resources. There is also a link to a PDF with information on how to access and use the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL).