Disability Advocacy
Phyllis Dodd's whole world changed after losing her leg in a very serious car accident.
In one tragic moment, Phyllis lost her ability to do many of the things that were a part of her active every day life, including long-distance running.
Phyllis decided that she needed to find a way to maintain her quality of life despite the loss of her leg. She began riding the trails with a specialized bike that runs off of arm power, started writing comedy and continued to attend her grandchildren's sporting events.
Phyllis soon discovered the additional challenges that face disabled citizens, simply because so many people choose to blatantly ignore disabled parking signs. To make matters worse, often times public venues are not constructed with ease-of-access in mind for persons with disabilities.
Phyllis decided to become a self-proclaimed "Accessibility Warrior."
She has taken this cause to heart and has made positive improvements in her community by working with local government. Phyllis wanted better accessibility to outdoor facilities for people with limited mobility.
Just a few years earlier, Phyllis was literally able to run for miles on the Great Wall of China. Now, as an amputee riding her bike, she could not access a park just a quarter mile from her home. The problem was too few access points with curb cuts and too many cars parked illegally. The fix was new readable signs, fresh paint on restricted areas and a police department willing to patrol and enforce.
Phyllis' landlocked neighborhood needed a concrete sidewalk connector so moms with baby carriages, kids on bikes, runners, and people in mobility aids could safely access other parts of her community. Everyone said it would take months or years to get it approved. With Phyllis’ “squeaky wheel” persistence and persuasion the job was completed in nine weeks! Proof that one person can make a difference in advocating for many.
In her public speaking appearances in the Raleigh - Durham "Research Triangle" area and throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Phyllis brings her role as the Accessibility Warrior to life, sharing her experiences as a disabled citizen -- often with a touch of humor. She also provides tips and insights that every one in her audience can use to promote awareness about the importance of improved accessibility for all people.