Arkansas Valley Cross-Disability Coalition (STEPS)

About us: In the late 90s, Dick Lodmell came to the Rocky Ford/La Junta area when one of our members needed help getting a motorized wheelchair. Our first activity was a dance we put on to commemorate the ADA in about 2000. We had about 100 participants with transportation from the mental health center and the community centered board. Shortly after wards one of our members faced loss of her home health services until CCDC intervened. This created a bond of trust with the disabled community and STEPS began to meet once every three weeks, starting out as a support group where people could come and discuss their problems and turn to each other for help. After that, several people were trained in advocacy to help people get their benefits from Social Security or Department of Social Services and we began to make changes in our community. Focus Areas: The current membership is focused on responding to legislative alerts. Accomplishments: One of our first big successes was a curb ramp project in Rocky Ford. City Council insisted that it had no money and never got any federal grants for that sort of thing. We knew that wasn’t true because federal grants were used to build an assisted living center. We turned to an ally at Tri-County Housing who worked with us to develop a grant proposal through the Department of Local Affairs. Our members mapped out and identified the most crucial points for curb ramps and the proposal was a success. Our proudest moment was when we persuaded the Fowler Loaf N Jug to put in a handicapped bathroom and reserve a parking space. It all started when one of our members noticed the store was being remodeled and found out there were no plans to put in an accessible bathroom. We brushed up on the ADA requirements, made phone calls and wrote letters to the regional headquarters. When they didn’t respond we made more phone calls and got a recording of a manager refusing to make any modifications because he insisted he didn’t have to. We then notified the store manager, who was a friend, that we would be picketing on Highway 50 on a specific date to inform the public of this discrimination. Instead, we had a meeting with a suddenly compliant manager and later celebrated with a birthday party for everyone who had not been able to come in to the store all those years. Upcoming Events/Meetings: Anita Bray continues to have her artwork posted in local galleries and has entered a contest featuring her music.  Search for her on U-Tube. Contact Info: David and Anita Bray at 719-384-2084