PBN Diversity Equity & Inclusion 2024 Awards
EDITOR’S CHOICE – ADVOCATE: Tina Guenette, Real Access Motivates Progress
AFTER TINA GUENETTE BECAME paralyzed a decade ago, the football mom, cheerleading coach and scoutmaster found that many of the places she frequented were inaccessible for someone in a wheelchair.
Guenette, 52, began advocating to make areas more accessible. Such advocacy became her life’s work, founding the national nonprofit Real Access Motivates Progress, or RAMP, nearly six years ago in Burrillville.
Through RAMP, Guenette works with businesses, schools, health care facilities, organizations, elected officials and first responders to help them use best practices when working and interacting with the disabled community.
“I am committed to an inclusive world,” said Guenette, the organization’s CEO and president. “I’ve opened the eyes of many to the importance of accessibility.”
Guenette became paralyzed after she had a spinal stroke during what was supposed to be a quick, minor procedure. She feels fortunate she only lost the use of her legs. Guenette is a survivor – she has had four bouts with cancer, four strokes and a double heart attack.
She described the disabled as “the largest minority in the world and the only minority that anyone can join at any time,” adding it “does not discriminate.” Citing information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Guenette says 55% of Rhode Islanders use a mobility aide, such as a walker, wheelchair or cane.
RAMP trains a company’s staff on how to interact with the disabled community, helps them comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and informs them about grants and tax breaks available as a result of improving accessibility. Information on grants also can be found on her website at rampisinclusion.org.
Guenette said businesses will hear about her organization and reach out to find out how to become more accessible.
“We want businesses to feel secure; we will never throw a business under the bus,” Guenette said. “We will work with you as much as it takes to make sure you get the RAMP stamp of approval.”
Her efforts have been acknowledged both locally and nationally. Guenette was appointed by President Joe Biden to the U.S. Access Board and she serves on the Governor’s Commission on Disability as vice chairperson, as well as on the Commission on Aging.
Guenette estimates she has assisted more than 200 businesses – mostly in Rhode Island – to become fully accessible. Businesses that received her RAMP stamp of approval can be found on rampapproved.com. Accessible bathrooms and entryways with ramps are some of the features noted at the businesses.
Alison Bologna, owner of Shri Studio Inc. in Pawtucket, said Guenette visited her business about six months ago. She checked the first floor of the historic building, looking at the changing rooms and bathrooms, as well as access points and the art studio, which serves adults with disabilities, and the food pantry.
Bologna said Guenette also was interested in seeing what the yoga classes looked like for people in wheelchairs. Shri offers adaptive yoga for the disabled population.
“It was great to have her in person, meeting our students and confirming our space meets the needs of our entire community. I think it’s great to have a standard. We’re in a historic building, and she understood the challenges we’re up against and was complimentary about how we made the first floor accessible,” Bologna said. “She has a lot of spunk.”
Guenette also runs a national podcast linked to her website. And she is active on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Threads and LinkedIn, to spread the word about accessibility issues.
While access for the disabled has improved since she first started RAMP, Guenette said there is still “a long way to go.” She said she has had to turn down awards because she couldn’t get into the venues hosting the ceremonies.
Event planners need to be sure wheelchairs can navigate between tables, ensuring they are 3 feet apart, and that stages are fully accessible with ramps, she says, adding there is no event venue in the state that is fully accessible.
She leaves everyone with this challenge: “Wherever you go, ask yourself, ‘Can Tina come with me? Can Tina get around the room?’ ”
