This is a one-person operation. A person on a mission. I want to be clear: this is not a formally classified non-profit or charity—you will not get a tax write-off by donating to this cause. What you will get is the knowledge that you're helping someone who truly needs it.
I am a middle-aged mother and a survivor of domestic violence. I also live with a disability. There was a time when I lost everything and found myself trapped in inaccessible housing with no mobility equipment available and no means to obtain any. It was an endless cycle: I needed mobility equipment to get to the appointments and places where I could potentially get the equipment, but without the equipment, I couldn't get there. It was a catch-22 that left me stuck and struggling.
Now, I volunteer on a 24-hour crisis hotline for domestic violence victims, and I’ve heard from so many others in similar situations. Individuals staying at safehouses and shelters who can't access the bathroom, showers, or even the dining areas at will. They can't walk to a public location to get picked up for a doctor’s appointment to get a note for the equipment they need, much less make it to an equipment provider or charity that requires a doctor’s note.
I chose walkers because they are the most commonly requested mobility aid. Walkers are lightweight, easy to use, easy to store, and don’t take up much room. They offer stability that can benefit people accustomed to hand-crutches, crutches, and even wheelchairs in some cases. I didn’t pick walkers because they were the perfect solution or ideal for everyone, but because they were the most requested and offer a level of versatility and convenience that other mobility aids do not.
My dream is to expand W.A.V.E. to be more inclusive of varying mobility needs, including wheelchairs, canes, rollerators, shower chairs, and crutches. But I figured walkers were a good place to start. I'm raising a kid on a fixed income, if it's going to happen it will be because of the donations I receive from others. I scope out thrift stores and keep an eye on Marketplace but I can't do (or afford) it on my own. Unfortunately, I cannot accept cash donations at this time because I rely on income-based programs to support myself and cash donations would be counted as income.
I’m not doing this for personal gain or rewards—my only reward is knowing that someone, somewhere, will have access to the mobility equipment they desperately need when they find themselves in a safehouse or shelter. I hope my efforts bring attention to the larger issue of accessibility and shed light on the inherent flaw in expecting someone to obtain something when they simply don’t have the capacity to do so.
More than anything, I hope these walkers help people get to their doctor appointments, get the prescriptions for the mobility equipment they need, and ensure that no one is left feeling stuck or stranded because of their ability level.