Searching for the right home health caregiver can feel overwhelming.
One way to make the process more manageable is crafting a strong ad that does more than describe tasks and requirements. A good ad should tell your story, set clear expectations and help applicants picture themselves in the role.
Members of the United Spinal Association’s Care Support Working Group know this process well. Drawing from their experiences, they shared practical advice on how to write caregiver ads that stand out, attract the right applicants and lead to better long-term care relationships.
Read their top tips — link in bio & story
Debbie Myers, pictured left, has been involved with United Spinal’s North Carolina Chapter for 23 years and currently serves as the chapter’s president.
During her tenure, she has received countless calls about the chapter’s impact from wheelchair users and their family members, but she says one call from the father of a member stands out specifically. His son played on a wheelchair rugby team that had grown out of a chapter-sponsored clinic.
“He told me, ‘Debbie, I need to thank you for bringing this sport, you saved my son’s life. We thought we were going to lose him and he’s just found a new purpose. He’s getting back to being himself,’” says Myers.
Read more — link in bio & story 🧡
Steve Lieberman, Director of Advocacy and Policy, spent time in DC last week talking directly to congressmen about the need to preserve programs that are critical to the disability community.
“Many programs that are focused on the needs of people with disabilities are proposed to be cut. We don’t want to see that happen. We want to preserve the capacity of the SCI Model Systems program and provide an increase in funding, which is 20 years overdue,” says Steve.
United Spinal is gearing up for Roll on Capitol Hill this June to continue the fight. Please support our mission: givebutter.com/ROCH26
"From the first Roll on Capitol Hill I was honored to attend in 2012, I knew it would be special — but being part of it has been so much more than I imagined. We have educated legislators and staff on the needs of wheelchair users and people with disabilities. It’s very encouraging to know we make a difference and can positively make changes that affect our lives," says Kim Harrison, North Florida Chapter Advocacy Coordinator.
This June, United Spinal Association's 14th annual advocacy conference goes virtual — the same huge impact and direct legislator engagement, but with more advocates than ever before.
We need your support to continue amplifying the voices of our community! Please donate: givebutter.com/ROCH2026
80 years ago, a group of wheelchair users rolled into Grand Central Station to gather signatures for accessible housing legislation.
That group — which would become Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, the predecessor of United Spinal — saw tremendous need and started finding solutions. It’s that same spirit that continues to drive United Spinal 80 years later.
We’ve created webinars before they were mainstream, trained hundreds of peer mentors, and provided resources to support people through all phases of their recovery journey. United Spinal continues to adapt to meet the needs of our community.
Read more about our origin story and how we’ve evolved in the past 80 years — link in bio & story 🧡
We’re proud to announce Matt Castelluccio as the CEO of United Spinal Association! Matt brings both leadership experience and lived perspective to this role as we continue supporting and empowering wheelchair users.
He says the strength of United Spinal has always been its community of members and chapters and that community is where the organization will focus.
“I don’t care what’s at the end of my signature line — my role is to bring everybody to the table to be able to voice their opinions about our organization and to make sure those voices inform the growth and development of United Spinal. We exist because of our chapters and members, and I don’t ever want to lose sight of that.”
Read more about Matt’s full-circle moment — link in bio & story
For our 80th Anniversary, we’re on a mission to make healthcare more equitable for wheelchair users. We asked our members to share positive experiences with their healthcare team, here are a few of those reflections.
“I live in a very small town that is mostly farmland, and I’m one of three people in the county with a spinal cord injury. My doctor had no experience with spinal cord injuries, but she listens to me, does lots of research and calls other professionals if needed. She has always given me an answer or sent me in the right direction. She has saved my life more than once by listening and caring,” says Rachel Link in Ohio.
I use a concierge primary care service that charges a $200 a year membership and bills insurance. The extra price has been well worth it for me. The doctor is rarely running late because they schedule enough time per appointment. Although my doctor doesn’t have specific experience treating disabled patients, she is always willing to learn and accommodate,” says Shannon Kelly in Illinois.
It’s never just been about treatment. It’s been about having a team that understands you and genuinely wants to help you reach your full potential, whatever that looks like.” says Shanta Favors in Michigan.
Access resources and tool kits to help you advocate for more accessible healthcare: unitedspinal.org/health-access
Homes with accessibility features like step-free access are already in high demand on Airbnb — and that demand will only grow during major global events. Join us for a special session focused on accessibility ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a host, this is a great place to start.
🏡 Accessibility Academy — Intro to Hosting with Accessibility Features
🗓 Wednesday, April 22, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM PDT
📍 Online (free webinar)
This session will walk through:
• How Airbnb works and the hosting opportunity
• Why accessibility features matter and how to highlight them
• Best practices from an experienced Airbnb Superhost
• Live Q&A with Airbnb’s accessibility team
• Tools, resources, and ongoing support
Whether you’re just exploring or ready to get started, this session is designed to give you a clear, practical path forward.
👉 Register — link in bio & story
“As a wheelchair user, I constantly face accessibility challenges, so my disability has taught me how to view problems differently and come up with unique solutions,” says Arielle Rausin, United Spinal’s Director of Chapter and Hospital Network.
For disabled professionals, living with a disability often offers graduate-level training in creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication — exactly the kind of skills needed to excel in the workplace.
At United Spinal, wheelchair users make up 40% of our program staff and 50% of our board. Read more about how inclusive workplaces help people with disabilities bring our whole selves, and all our skills, to work.
Hear more reflections — link in bio & story
Federal law reserves a limited number of parking spaces for people with disabilities. Accessible disability spaces have specific features like space for van lifts and proximity to sidewalk cuts. These are essential for the safety and independence of disabled people when they’re accessing the community.
A new complaint DREDF has joined in Florida challenges a state law that allows anyone who is pregnant to get a one-year permit to park in accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities. Expanding access for one group should never come at the expense of those who require accommodations.
DREDF is proud to support this effort to protect disability rights.
Learn more at the link in our bio.
Getting urology supplies shouldn’t feel overwhelming and now, it doesn’t have to.
That’s why @byramhealthcare partners with United Spinal Association to make urology supplies simple. From coordinating with your doctor to working directly with your insurance, they handle the details, so you don’t have to.
No stress. No guesswork. Just help every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most. 💙
📦 Call 1-800-364-6057 today or visit the link in bio.
“I think the more diversity that can be brought to the table, the greater the impact that you can have. Disability spans all nationalities, all languages, all cultures, all ages. That intersectionality is important,” says Allaina Humphreys.
She has spent more than 30 years transforming her lived experience as a quadriplegic into meaningful policy and systems change. She spoke on her local and state advocacy roles, her mission-driven design studio and the belief that accessibility benefits everyone on our Meet an Advocate livestream.
Watch the full conversation — link in bio & story
