Every July, Disability Pride Month is celebrated and serves as “an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community,” according to The Arc, a nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
One way local organizations are bringing attention to the health and safety of the wheelchair user and their chair is by partnering for the Wash & Tune Wheelchair Clinic. Last fall, the United Spinal Association, Saint Francis University, Johnstown’s Vision Together 2025, and Laurel Medical Solutions partnered to help wheelchair users make sure their chairs were safe and prepared for winter.
“Since the South Central Chapter of United Spinal Association understands this economic barrier, we are working to provide this service for free annually,” said Center for Population Health Board Member Barb Zablotney.
Regular wheelchair maintenance is a very important task that should be performed because it directly affects the health and safety of the user.
The clinic was open to any user who wanted to have maintenance done on their chair and/or have it cleaned.
This year’s Wash & Tune Wheelchair Clinic is being planned with the date to be released soon.
“Wheelchair maintenance and cleaning should be a task that is done on a regular basis, especially living in rural Pennsylvania,” said Zablotney. “We all know insurance doesn’t cover the cost of maintenance until the part breaks, and the best way to be proactive about your health is to have your chair cleaned and looked over by professionals often. It’s important to have your chair serviced before winter to ensure everything is lubricated to protect the moving parts from the salt and chemicals they spray on our roads in the winter. These chemicals will rust a wheelchair quickly, which ends up causing those who use wheelchairs for mobility to have more frequent needs for repairs which also means being stuck in bed. Our wheelchairs liberate us and allow us to live our lives which is why keeping on top of it is recommended.”
If you need more information about how to maintain your wheelchair, visit Manual Guide (modest-yonath-b126dc.netlify.app).
Both Cambria (13.2%) and Somerset (11.1%) counties have higher percentages of people under age 65 with a disability than Pennsylvania (10%) and the United States (8.9%).
The numbers represent the years 2018-2022, according to the U.S Census Bureau.
Disability Pride Day didn’t have its first celebration until 2004 in Chicago and now an entire month with events happening nationwide empower people with disabilities. The month of July was chosen as Disability Pride Month because it is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which passed on July 26, 1990.
This year’s theme “We Want a Life Like Yours” came from The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates and “reflects the disability community’s dreams for life experiences that they are too often denied.”
According to The Arc, there are many ways people can learn more and support people with disabilities:
- Meet people with disabilities
- Learn about Disability Rights in the United States
- Take action by reaching out to elected officials
- Teach kids how acknowledge and include disabled people
- Attend a Disability Pride Month event
- Hire people with disabilities
- Share your disability story
For more information, visit https://thearc.org/.
You can also visit https://www.disabilitypridepa.org/ to learn about Pennsylvania-specific events.
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cambria County, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; United States