In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland shares inspiring stories of courage and resilience. Hear how a six-year-old wrestling champion overcame limb loss from a lawnmower accident to dominate the mat, the journey of Birmingham Fire & Rescue’s first amputee firefighter who embodies determination, and the transformative work of Ignite Adaptive Sports, empowering individuals of all abilities to enjoy outdoor adventures. Tune in for these uplifting stories of strength and triumph.
Wrestling Champ: https://www.newson6.com/story/67958d028cedfc82c6f80b88/six-year-old-survivor-becomes-state-wrestling-champion
Amputee Firefighter: https://www.wbrc.com/2025/01/24/birmingham-fire-rescues-first-only-amputee-shares-story-determination/
Ignite Adaptive Sports: https://igniteadaptivesports.org
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Sometimes, the biggest changes don't happen in a lab—they happen with a few carefully chosen words. In this episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast, I want to personally thank the LN-4 Hand Project (https://ln4handproject.org/) for updating its mission statement to better reflect the entire upper limb limb loss community. For many years, organizations have understandably focused on a specific group of individuals. But recognizing and including everyone living with upper limb loss and limb difference sends a powerful message: you belong, your story matters, and you are seen. As someone born without a right hand, this change means a great deal to me personally, and I believe it represents an important step toward greater inclusion across our community.
What happens when disability advocates from across the country come together to shape the future of independent living and accessibility? In this solo episode of We're Not Stumped, I share my personal reflections after attending the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., where I represented Ability360 as a member of its Board of Directors. From celebrating ADA36: We Won't Go Back to hearing powerful stories from advocates, policymakers, and leaders in the disability community, the conference reinforced why protecting and advancing disability rights remains so important.
In this episode of We're Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Karen Morales, a wheelchair user and leader of Fora Travel's Accessibility Initiative, to discuss how the travel industry can become more inclusive for everyone. After becoming a wheelchair user in 2020, Karen quickly discovered that planning an accessible trip often meant endless phone calls, unanswered questions, and uncertainty about whether hotels, transportation, and attractions would truly meet her needs. Rather than accepting those challenges, she helped create an initiative that's training hundreds of travel advisors to better serve travelers with disabilities and other accessibility needs.
