If there’s a common theme among our features in this issue, besides the obvious one of Legislation, it is the necessity of participation in a common action to accomplish shared goals. Marshalling the participation of paralyzed veterans in VA hospitals after World War II, United Spinal’s founders helped raise public awareness about the needs of people with disabilities for appropriate housing and transportation, employment opportunities, and access to the community at large. None of these goals would have been realized without legislation to mandate them; but none of them would have been goals in the first place without a common effort to push for them.
Just as United Spinal as a whole benefits from your participation and your willingness to express your desires for this association, so, too, does Action. Happily, many of you are not only ready to share your stories, images, opinions and ideas with us, you’re already doing it.
This month, I’m delighted to share with you an essay a young member sent to me: “What Ability Means to Me,” by Dwayne “DJ” Murray Jr. I hope DJ’s story will inspire other kids who read Action to write to us.
I’m always pleased when any member sends me their stories. If you want to send me your story, just send me an e-mail at action@unitedspinal.org or drop me a letter at our National headquarters.
You can also share your opinion. Take our online Readership Survey. Thanks for your participation!
Christofer D. Pierson
Managing Editor
