Wheels for Barton: Spreading the Ink
Donation protected
Pay It Forward Campaign
For every $50 we raise, we will contribute an hour of service back to the community!
Contribute and be sure to add a note that says:
Please contribute (hours) towards (organization from the choices below) in honor/memory of (name).
The organizations we will be gifting time back to are:
Read and Feed
http://www.readandfeed.org
Raleigh City Farm
http://raleighcityfarm.com/
Habitat for Humanity of Wake County
http://www.habitatwake.org
Contribute $50, and we'll donate a full hour of service to the organization of choice. For those that would like to donate $25, we'll contribute .5 hours for the organization of your choice.
Our Story
We (Barton Cutter, and his wife Megan) have surpassed many challenges and barriers as an inter-ability couple, and yet one remains- an accessible van. Barton has Cerebral Palsy, and uses a motor wheelchair for mobility.
Together, we released our memoir Ink in the Wheels: Stories to Make Love Roll, sharing our journey of relationships, love, and marriage, impacted by disability in February 2013. Our memoir is an extension of the work we do with individuals and families impacted by disability to foster a paradigm of full inclusion within the community. Yet, our plan for taking the book and its message on the road, however, has been stymied by our current situation.
The week after the book release, our '99 non-accessible Honda Civic- with over 250,000 miles was found beyond repair, and in the midst of our greatest success to impact the lives of people with and without disabilities, we also faced our greatest challenge. How can we spread our vision without a way to get there?
A new accessible van can cost upwards of $50,000, and since we were married in 2004, we do not qualify for federal or state disability benefits. And, while loan programs exist to purchase accessible vans, the monthly costs are high and the loan duration often far exceeds the life of the vehicle.
Yet, transportation continues to be a challenge for Barton. One evening, with an after hour's meeting across town, Barton contracted an accessible taxi service, but a miscommunication between the dispatcher and driver led Barton to wait on the side of the road until 11pm.
So Close, but So Far
What possibilities exist when you believe you can surpass any barrier? This is the question that Barton Cutter asked for the NMEDA National Mobility Awareness Contest, where 3 families would win accessible vans. While Barton made it to the semi-finalist round, he was not chosen as a winner.
Read Megan's journey and vision in an Open Letter to the NMEDA here, a powerful testament to the vision that we both hold: http://www.loverollson.com/an-open-letter-to-nmeda-national-mobility-awareness-month/
Watch the video that we made for the NMEDA Campaign (in true Barton & Megan style)!
We're Not Giving Up!
We are now looking at additional avenues to reach our dreams of an accessible van. And we know- honestly- we can't do it alone. This is one barrier we just have not been able to break through, it seems so impossible to us. And, as always with Barton, our dream is to do the impossible.
We strive to continue on our path toward accessible transportation so that we can inspire, motivate and empower those of all abilities.
Join in our journey toward accessible transportation and transformation by contributing to our Go Fund Me Campaign!
We need some New Wheels for Barton to Spread the Ink!!
For more information about Barton and Megan Cutter visit http://inkinthewheels.com or http://cuttersedgeconsulting.com.
For every $50 we raise, we will contribute an hour of service back to the community!
Contribute and be sure to add a note that says:
Please contribute (hours) towards (organization from the choices below) in honor/memory of (name).
The organizations we will be gifting time back to are:
Read and Feed
http://www.readandfeed.org
Raleigh City Farm
http://raleighcityfarm.com/
Habitat for Humanity of Wake County
http://www.habitatwake.org
Contribute $50, and we'll donate a full hour of service to the organization of choice. For those that would like to donate $25, we'll contribute .5 hours for the organization of your choice.
Our Story
We (Barton Cutter, and his wife Megan) have surpassed many challenges and barriers as an inter-ability couple, and yet one remains- an accessible van. Barton has Cerebral Palsy, and uses a motor wheelchair for mobility.
Together, we released our memoir Ink in the Wheels: Stories to Make Love Roll, sharing our journey of relationships, love, and marriage, impacted by disability in February 2013. Our memoir is an extension of the work we do with individuals and families impacted by disability to foster a paradigm of full inclusion within the community. Yet, our plan for taking the book and its message on the road, however, has been stymied by our current situation.
The week after the book release, our '99 non-accessible Honda Civic- with over 250,000 miles was found beyond repair, and in the midst of our greatest success to impact the lives of people with and without disabilities, we also faced our greatest challenge. How can we spread our vision without a way to get there?
A new accessible van can cost upwards of $50,000, and since we were married in 2004, we do not qualify for federal or state disability benefits. And, while loan programs exist to purchase accessible vans, the monthly costs are high and the loan duration often far exceeds the life of the vehicle.
Yet, transportation continues to be a challenge for Barton. One evening, with an after hour's meeting across town, Barton contracted an accessible taxi service, but a miscommunication between the dispatcher and driver led Barton to wait on the side of the road until 11pm.
So Close, but So Far
What possibilities exist when you believe you can surpass any barrier? This is the question that Barton Cutter asked for the NMEDA National Mobility Awareness Contest, where 3 families would win accessible vans. While Barton made it to the semi-finalist round, he was not chosen as a winner.
Read Megan's journey and vision in an Open Letter to the NMEDA here, a powerful testament to the vision that we both hold: http://www.loverollson.com/an-open-letter-to-nmeda-national-mobility-awareness-month/
Watch the video that we made for the NMEDA Campaign (in true Barton & Megan style)!
We're Not Giving Up!
We are now looking at additional avenues to reach our dreams of an accessible van. And we know- honestly- we can't do it alone. This is one barrier we just have not been able to break through, it seems so impossible to us. And, as always with Barton, our dream is to do the impossible.
We strive to continue on our path toward accessible transportation so that we can inspire, motivate and empower those of all abilities.
Join in our journey toward accessible transportation and transformation by contributing to our Go Fund Me Campaign!
We need some New Wheels for Barton to Spread the Ink!!
For more information about Barton and Megan Cutter visit http://inkinthewheels.com or http://cuttersedgeconsulting.com.
Organizer
Megan Cutter
Organizer
Raleigh, NC