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Programs

Marshall’s Story

At Mays Mission for the Handicapped, moments like this remind us exactly why we do what we do.

Recently, we had the privilege of walking alongside Marshall during a major life transition—moving from a small hotel room into a larger, fully accessible apartment he can truly call home.

In his previous space, everyday movement was a challenge. Tight quarters made it difficult to navigate his wheelchair, limiting not just his mobility, but his independence. Simple tasks required extra effort, and the lack of accessibility created daily obstacles.

Today, everything is different.

Marshall now has room to move freely and safely. With wider doorways, open space to turn, and an environment designed with accessibility in mind, he’s able to navigate his home with confidence. But the real transformation goes beyond the physical space—it’s about dignity, independence, and the freedom to live life more fully.

And Marshall’s journey didn’t stop at move-in day.

Shortly after getting settled into his new apartment, Marshall reached out to us with another need. Because of a stroke that took mobility on one side of his body, the control on his power wheelchair was no longer in the most functional position for him. He asked if we could help switch the controller to better suit his needs.

We were honored to step in and make that adjustment.

Later that evening, we received a message from Marshall that perfectly captured the impact of what might seem like a small change:

“I rode my powerchair to church last night, and my chair was so much easier to ride since you guys fixed my controller from the right side to the left side. Thanks so much for being my friend.”

Moments like this remind us that what we do isn’t just about equipment or housing—it’s about people. It’s about restoring independence, enabling connection, and helping individuals engage with their community in meaningful ways.

Marshall didn’t just gain a new apartment—he gained greater freedom, confidence, and the ability to participate in life on his own terms.

And that smile on his face says it all.

Thank you to everyone who supports Mays Mission. Your generosity and compassion make stories like Marshall’s possible. Together, we are creating accessible opportunities and brighter futures—one life at a time.

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Programs

Helping John

We recently helped John ‘Indian’ Sparks, a double amputee, get off the streets. John was homeless and in a wheel chair when a local ministry told us about him. He had no one else left to turn to and no where else to go. We found a hotel for him until more permanent housing could be found.

Finding a wheelchair accessible hotel room for a few nights until more permanent housing could be found proved difficult. One would assume that over 30 years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), access and design of modern buildings would be accessible to all. But, alas, that is not the case. In instances like this, I strongly encourage you to eagerly and politely advise the establishment of the inconvenience they have caused and ask that it be corrected sometime in the near future.

While we were helping John find a place to stay we also picked up food from a local food bank for him and eventually John was able to find more permanent housing and get off the streets thanks to Mays Mission’s wonderful donors.

If you would like to advocate on behalf of people like John we have free brochures we can provided you like ‘The Americans With Disabilities Act’ and ‘Making Your Community More Accessible’ that can help. These brochures were printed by employees with disabilities at Mays Mission.

Positive Language Empowers!

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Programs

Interacting with people who have disabilities

We get asked a lot for help in this area, especially in workplaces, so here are some quick points to always remember:

Don’t make assumptions about people or their disabilities. If you have a question about what to do, how to do it, what language, or terminology to use, or what assistance to offer, ask the person.

Do not assume that a person with a disability is disabled in all areas of life.

Before you help someone with a disability, ask if they’d like help. In some cases, even a person who appears to be struggling is fine and would prefer to complete the task without assistance.

Look for potential obstacles for people with mobility or sensory limitations in your workplace. Identify how you might have those obstacles removed.

When writing or speaking about people with disabilities, use “people first” language: “person with a disability” versus “disabled person.”

And, as always, focus on ability, not disability!

Thank you for your support! For more information call us, message us, or email us at info@maysmission.org for a free, no strings attached copies of our brochures ‘Making Your Community More Accessible’ or ‘The Americans With Disabilities Act’ to help advocate in your community. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities right here at Mays Mission.

Thanks for your support!