Day 1: 7th Annual All Mountain Ski Camp, Steamboat CO

STARS and Adaptive Adventures are back at it, teaming up to bring the 7th annual ski camp in Steamboat for wounded warriors and adult skiers with disabilities from all over the world, and as always, it was a glorious first day on the slopes.  Despite not having near the norm in snowfall this year, the runs were in good shape, and the groups were bombing down the hill faster than you could keep up with them.  

(Sometimes even the pros take a digger.)

Catch 'em on the hill - if you can - through Thursday.   More shots and video to come!

NY City Mayor steps into the battle zone with visitors and locals with disabilities

October 24, 2011 By AccessAnything 

Hot off the press from United Spinal – we at Access Anything fully support equal access for all travelers, and think Bloomberg has gone way too far with this one.  Join us in speaking up against his ignorance.

New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg has recently made incredibly offensive remarks directed at wheelchair users who want greater access to the city’s yellow taxi fleet.
Bloomberg stated that “it’s too dangerous” for wheelchair users to hail a cab in New York City and that most drivers would “pretend they didn’t see them”. He also said wheelchair users “sit too far from the driver to establish a dialogue” and therefore “they would not tip well”.
It’s time to call out the offensive remarks of Bloomberg by showing your support for a fully-accessible NYC taxi fleet. Sadly, only 231 of the city’s 13,000 taxis are accessible to wheelchair users. The New York Daily News is taking an online poll regarding the desirability of accessible taxis.
Read the NY Daily News article here – and VOTE to give riders with disabilities a chance
United Spinal has advocated for accessible taxis in New York for many years. But this fight reaches far beyond the city’s front lines. If NYC creates an equitable system of accessible public transportation then other cities both small and large will follow.
You need not be a New York resident to take the survey as it affects our entire community. So please let your voice be heard by taking this important survey that only takes a few seconds to complete.
Background reading on this issue:
http://www.spinalcord.org/push-for-cab-access-grows/
http://www.spinalcord.org/key-to-hailing-a-cab-in-nyc-tip-well-and-hide-your-wheelchair/

New Rule Strengthens Protections for Americans with Disabilities at Rail Stations

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that individuals with disabilities will have greater access to intercity, commuter and high-speed train travel as a result of a new rule requiring new station platform construction or significant renovation to enable those with disabilities to get on and off any car on a train.

“This will help give passengers with disabilities better access to rail travel across the country,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “By putting this protection in place, passengers with disabilities will be able to get on and off any accessible car that is available to passengers at a new or altered station platform.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is amending its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations to require intercity, commuter and high-speed passenger railroads to ensure, at new and significantly renovated station platforms, that passengers with disabilities can get on and off any accessible car of the train.  Passenger railroads must provide level-entry boarding at new or altered stations in which no track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with existing freight rail operations. 

For new or altered stations in which track shared with existing freight rail operations precludes compliance, passenger railroads will be able to choose among a variety of means to meet a performance standard to ensure that passengers with disabilities can access each accessible train car that other passengers can board at the station. These options include providing car-borne lifts, station-based lifts, or mini-high platforms. 

The Department will review a railroad’s proposed method to ensure that it provides reliable and safe services to individuals with disabilities in an integrated manner. 

The rule also requires that transit providers carry a wheelchair and occupant if the lift and vehicle can physically accommodate them, unless doing so is inconsistent with legitimate safety requirements.  In addition, it codifies the existing DOT mechanism for issuing ADA guidance and makes minor technical changes to the Department’s ADA rules.

The Final Rule is available at http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-23576_PI.pdf.

 

Gorgeous day for some hittin

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If you can't beat em', cycle beside 'em

On August 26^th forty of the top Paracycling riders will descend on Steamboat Springs, CO to participate in one of the premier Paracycling races.  The race will be a fast 4.07 mile time-trial. Racers will compete in front of thousands of bicycle enthusiasts just prior to the finish of the USA Pro Challenge. These athletes come from all over the US, but they all have one thing in common…sheer determination.  These athletes, many wounded veterans, make it a practice to focus on their “abilities” rather than their “disabilities” and they don’t leave anything on the course. This is a must see event for the whole family.

Race begins at 1:30 on 6^th street at the US Pro riders finish bay..... But that's not all:

Following that is the STARS Biking the Boat Charity Ride on Saturday August 27th....

Join STARS to participate in your own biking experience after experiencing the US Pro Tour Steamboat Stage Race. Choose the 26 mile ride (click HERE for map) through the scenic back roads of Routt County or participate in our 5 mile All Abilities ride (click HERE for map)to raise money for people with disabilities. Participants will ride alongside 40 of the top handcyclists and Paralympians in the country. Monies raised will stay in Routt County to benefit ‘STARS’ Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports. Sign up to ride and challenge your friends to sponsor you or to ride with you! Start time: Long Ride 11:45, Short ride 12:00 Registration: All Ability ride - $25.00 per person Challenge Ride - $50.00 per person Riders raising $500 or more receive a jersey and a ticket to the USA Pro Challenge Steamboat VIP tent at the finish of the race on August 26th. Great prizes for top fundraisers! Registration includes a t-shirt, goody bag, after ride party with food and drink. Volunteers and limited adaptive equipment will be available for riders needing extra assistance. Registration now open.