Category: Disability Organizations

(*Note: My meeting with Eginaren Eginez was held in Spanish, and my Spanish comprehension is still relatively novice, so please excuse any unintended misunderstood elements from our conversation. Eginez also occasionally used the term “diversidad funcional” or “functional diversity” in describing disability as an innate part of the diverse spectrum of humanity. While I would…

Over September 23–25, I traveled back to Brussels to participate and volunteer in the Freedom Drive 2024, the flagship, bi-annual event organized by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). Hundreds of disability activists gathered from across Europe to join forces, have discussions, learn from each other, empower one another, and amplify our shared calls…

I wanted to give a heartfelt thank you to ENIL, the European Network on Independent Living, before finishing my official fundraising campaign for them today (Thursday, August 29, 2024). It has been a huge honor and pleasure to support ENIL as part of my ride, and working with ENIL has been perhaps the most personally…

During my ride through Copenhagen, I had the pleasure to meet with LOBPA, the nationwide member organization for people with disabilities who use personal assistance in Denmark. LOBPA is also a non-profit personal assistance provider for approximately 400 people with disabilities around Denmark (similar operational model to the Swedish organizations JAG and STIL that I…

While in Stockholm, I had the privilege and pleasure to meet with three fantastic and hardworking organizations working for disability rights, inclusion, and independent living in Sweden. I first met with JAG, which is both a personal assistance provider as well as the interest organization representing people with intellectual disabilities in Sweden. As an interest…

I had the pleasure and privilege to meet with Kynnys twice during my ride through Finland, both in Helsinki and Turku. During our meetings, I learned so much about the situation with accessibility, disability rights, and independent living in Finland. Kynnys Ry, or Threshold Association in English, was founded by a group of disabled students…

Exciting update: I’m partnering with the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) to raise awareness and funds for their work fighting for the right to independent living and political representation from people with disabilities throughout Europe and beyond. The European Network on Independent Living, or ENIL, is a network and forum of disability organizations and…