United Spinal is seeking nominations for this year’s StrongWheeled Together Awards, which celebrate “the best and brightest wheelchair users from around the nation,” the organization said in a March 19 social media post.
The theme of the 2024 awards is “The Idea of Community.”
The StrongWheeled Together Awards comprise three categories:
Community Voice: The Barry Corbet Community Voice award “honors an individual who deepens disability representation in American public life,” United Spinal said. “It is open to artists, writers and performers of all types, including content creators.” The award is named for Barry Corbet (1936-2004), a mountaineer, filmmaker and author who also served as the editor of New Mobility.
Community Visionary: The Brooke Ellison Community Visionary Award “honors an individual advancing the fields of technology or business, while exemplifying ideals around civic engagement and social responsibility — especially when it comes to the disability community.” The award honors Brooke Ellison (1978-2024), an academic, disability advocate, author and professor.
Community Builder: The James J. Peters Community Builder Award “honors an individual who has meaningfully improved the community for wheelchair users by successful advocating for quality disability services, accessible infrastructure, or enhanced access to opportunities. Peters (1945-2002), an Army veteran, was the long-time executive director of the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, which later became United Spinal. The Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center was renamed after Peters in 2005.
Award winners may be selected to receive a power or manual wheelchair from the Permobil Foundation, and two randomly selected winners will be awarded Restorative Therapies RT300, which uses integrated functional electrical stimulation for legs, arms, and core rehabilitation.
Nominations close April 19. “Respondents are welcome to nominate themselves, or someone they know who qualifies for any of these categories,” United Spinal said.
