On Thursday, January 23, 2025, was my first volunteer assignment with Disability Advocates of Kent County. The program is called Absolutely Accessible Kent. The DAKC team provides accessibility reviews for organizations and workplaces.
For this particular program, we are called “test pilots”. The pilots are volunteers that examine spaces and provide feedback on accessibility for people with disabilities.
My first assignment was the Steelcase Learning and Innovation Center to give the perspective of a wheelchair user. There were other volunteers with visual impairment, one with a walker, and someone with hearing impairment.
The staff at Steelcase were fantastic. They were warm, enthusiastic, and inquisitive. They had me ride into various rooms and office spaces to give input of what worked well for me and what did not.
One office had nice cabinetry with very breakable decor. With a bulky wheelchair that doubles as a battering ram in tight places, this set up made me nervous. This was one spasm away bumping into the cabinet and creating a loud mess.
I gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to a desk whose height is adjusted using a remote control switch.
Increasing my volunteering opportunities relevant to my career in social work is the next step of my transition in life. Up to now has been rehab, rehab, rehab. That is being dialed back now and I am motivated to fill cap my schedule to develop my sense of purpose and well-being. At the same time hoping to help others in need.
I don’t see this program with DA alone coming close to being the end all but is a next step. I have another iron or two in the fire that I’m exploring and will keep you in the loop.
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