BEHIND THE STORIES

With Ian Ruder

life beyond wheels

Actor Regan Linton compared the process of developing her new column, “Own It,” to the struggle Lady Gaga faces when deciding what to wear to the inauguration. “I’d make a decision like, ‘Yes! This is it!’ and then I’d be like, ‘Ummmm, maybe not quite there yet,’ and I’d explore a few more options. Ultimately, hopefully it’ll be expressive and forthright ... with some fun and irreverence thrown in,” she says. “I love talking about the things we don’t feel we can discuss, even though they are on our minds the most, or what we deal with most.”

I’ve wanted to get Jerry McGill’s voice in the magazine for some time now and was excited when he agreed to profile hip-hop dancer Auti Angel for this issue. It was the perfect fit, as McGill’s respect and appreciation of Angel shines through the story. “It was fun interviewing Auti,” he says. “Often times the subject can be standoffish and reserved, and justifiably so. There is a genuine concern for how they will be portrayed. Auti was jovial, lighthearted and at the same time open and revealing. The kind of person you want to have a beer with.”

Leaving the Senate to join United Spinal as director of policy and advocacy was definitely a change of pace, says Stephen Lieberman, who was a staffer for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). “In the Senate, you’re constantly fielding requests and taking meetings with various stakeholders about many different issues,” he says. “At United Spinal, we know what our issues are. The core mission of equal opportunity and inclusion stays the same. We just keep plugging away, looking to advance the ball further down the field for the benefit of our community.” We’re grateful for Steve’s advocacy update on page 10.

life beyond wheels

COLUMNISTS

MAT BARTON • JOSH BASILE SHERI DENKENSOHN • MIKE ERVIN MIKE FRANZ • REGAN LINTON BROOK MCCALL • TEAL SHERER TODD STABELFELDT • REVECA TORRES KATE WILLETTE • KARY WRIGHT

CONTRIBUTORS

KIM ANDERSON • CHRISTIAAN BAILEY LAWRENCE CARTER-LONG MICHAEL COLLINS • RORY COOPER

DEBORAH DAVIS • JENNIFER FRENCH

ALEX GHENIS • RICHARD HOLICKY GARY KARP • PAULA LARSON LILLY LONGSHORE KATE MATELAN • BEN MATTLIN

ASHLEY LYN OLSON • KENNY SALVINI ERIC STAMPFLI • MITCH TEPPER

ANTHONY TUSLER • KIRK WILLIAMS CORY LEE WOODARD LOREN WORTHINGTON

WEB PARTNERS

BACKBONES CURB FREE WITH CORY LEE ROLLIN’ RNS ROOTED IN RIGHTS SPINALPEDIA SPIN THE GLOBE WHEELCHAIR TRAVELING

FEATURED WEB PARTNER: Rollin’ RNs features two wheelchairusing RNs who use their experience as health care professionals who live with SCI to write articles that pertain to health topics of interest for the community. facebook.com/rollinrn

UNITED SPINAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS: unitedspinal.org/our-story