Press Release, Peace Love ACCESSibility

In the following message, Alex Bode, a North Branford resident, is excited to share news about a new nonprofit organization, Peace Love ACCESSibility, which she has started with the help and support of her family:

As a family with two wheelchair users, we have watched with great frustration as there has been both a decline in attention to accessibility and controversy over the issue of accessible parking.

One example is the day I had my Personal Care Assistant (PCA) park in a van-accessible spot so I could attend my college class. When we returned, a car with a placard had parked in the No Parking hashtag area next to my van. I couldn’t access my van to get back in.

It was a busy area with a lot of car activity so we called the police. The officer, although very nice, just didn’t know if he could ticket the car parked illegally because it had a placard. If this placard user had been educated and if the officer had a clearer understanding of the laws around accessible parking, situations like this would happen much less.

Unfortunately, it is only getting worse.This sparked our curiosity about why, and fueled our passion for equitable treatment. We established a nonprofit so we could figure out how to make a difference for those like us who struggle to get access to our communities!

Founded on principles of compassion, education and advocacy, Peace Love ACCESSibility is dedicated to fostering inclusivity, promoting accessibility, and empowering individuals with physical disabilities.

We began our work by talking to people in the community and researching laws. We were struck by what we discovered. There are laws and guidelines at the Federal level, yet these laws are essentially dependent on local government and police enforcement.

A recent presentation with a Madison Girl Scout Troop proved surprising when we found they had an intense interest in learning more about access for those with physical disabilities. They have rallied and began advocating by way of looking at access within their town center and beaches, as well as writing to State representatives asking for change.

When we lobbied for an Accessible Placard Advisory Council, The same young people jumped on board and began advocating for change. Engaging such young people and getting their support was encouraging and proof that change can occur by way of lived experience. We think this experience was eye-opening, and we look forward to a continued collaboration with these great young people, with the hope that more young people join in.

Our current goal is to see an improvement in accessible (handicap) parking. This is a necessity for those with physical disabilities. As a community, we should respect the people who use the spaces, help businesses understand the importance of following the rules, and enforce laws about use of the spaces.

To help determine where our education needs to begin, we are attempting to gather information through a brief survey of health care providers, those who use placards, and the general public that doesn’t use placards.

If you currently utilize an Accessible (handicap) Parking Placard, please take the survey at this link . If you do not utilize an Accessible (handicap) Parking Placard, or are a member of the general public please take the survey at this link. If you are a healthcare provider, please take the survey at this link.

Gathering data from placard users, nonusers and healthcare providers will give us the knowledge and tools to prioritize areas to concentrate on.

We formed Peace Love ACCESSibility with the hope to begin collaborations, support, and partnerships from individuals, local communities, and organizations that share our vision. We are seeking your help in raising awareness of our efforts.

Peace Love ACCESSibility was founded and is run by Alex Bode, MSW. Both Alex and her older brother Sam and live with a rare progressive disease called Friedreich’s Ataxia that has led to full-time wheelchair use and multiple physical challenges. Through the nonprofit they aim to advocate for accessibility, raise awareness, focus on community building and speak to legislators as part of their work towards creating a more inclusive world.

To learn more about our mission and get involved, please visit https://www.facebook.com/PeaceLoveACCESSibility/