Carmen Gonzalez

I've been a formal advocate for about 15 years, though I've always been an advocate because I've had MS since I was young. I found myself giving advice and being there for those who just didn't know what to do when they were frustrated and in despair. Three years ago on March 1st, I went to the MS Walk and made it known that I was the only MS Ambassador in Tucson. That's when I met Chris Marshall, who was the president for the National MS Society. He liked my vision when he asked what our three goals should be for the next fiscal year, and the first thing I said was to make the city, states, and towns accessible, especially the sidewalk ramps. It's now beyond me - it's developed a monster of its own. I'm developing a policy and philosophy, spreading this message through multiple podcast interviews. I started working with Project Sidewalk, an organization in Seattle, Washington, because they have the same mission as I do - the same vision of everyone living in an accessible world without barriers, where they can enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I worked with Professor Yochai Eisenberg and his 33 students a few months ago. I'm collecting data by asking questions across 9 Facebook groups and 5 other platforms about what's the least ADA-compliant in people's cities, states, or towns. On May 27th, 2030, I will be attending a demonstration in front of the White House on the south side of the Great Lawn in Washington, D.C. I want to become a voice for those who are disabled, wheelchair-bound, or having trouble getting to their doctors. I want to help develop disability inspections, creating jobs for wheelers and disabled people to inspect and ensure accessibility.