Access 2 Independence

08/10/2026

08/07/2026

Driven to Inspire: Quadriplegic Advocate Marks 25th Injury Anniversary Behind the Wheel of 2,500-Mile Cross-Country Drive-a-Thon
COLUMBUS, GA — This September 9th marks exactly 25 years since disability advocate, musician, and community organizer ORee Crittenden sustained a life-altering spinal cord injury resulting in tetraplegia. Instead of looking back, Crittenden is marking this milestone milestone by looking forward at the open road ahead—announcing that he will personally pilot a heavily modified, adaptive 2005 Dodge Magnum RT for the historic CIL Coast-2-Coast Drive-a-Thon.
This grueling 2,500-mile endurance journey will take Crittenden directly from the Access 2 Independence Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Columbus, Georgia, to the historical birthplace of the independent living movement at the University of California, Berkeley. [1]
"Twenty-five years ago, my life changed instantly, but my drive to push boundaries never stopped," says Crittenden. "This milestone isn’t just about looking back at survival. It’s a real-world demonstration of adaptive independence. By driving across the country using custom hand controls, I want to prove what individuals with physical disabilities can accomplish when given access to the right tools and supportive frameworks."
The cross-country trek serves a vital dual purpose: raising critical operational funds for Access 2 Independence, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit providing essential physical, social, and advocacy services for the regional disability community.
As a former professional 12V mobile electronics installer, Crittenden has personally overseen the construction of his custom Dodge Magnum wagon. The vehicle utilizes sophisticated, electronic Sure Grip drive-by-wire hand controls, heavily modified with a rugged BMX-style handle tailored to his unique driving style.
Corporate sponsorship slots, fuel-card donations, equipment partnerships, and individual per-mile tracking pledges are actively being accepted to fuel this journey.
Media Contact:

* Organizer / Driver: ORee Crittenden
* Phone: 706-315-6617
* Email: [email protected]
* Websites: access2independence.com | odogrollin.com
* Social: on Instagram

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25 YEARS ON WHEELS. 2,500 MILES TO FREEDOM. ♿️💨
September 9th marks exactly 25 years since the spinal cord injury that changed my life forever. A lot of people might look back at a milestone like that with mixed emotions—but I’m looking straight down the highway. [2]
To mark a quarter-century of rolling forward, I am officially taking the wheel as the driver for the CIL Coast-2-Coast Drive-a-Thon!
I’ll be piloting my custom-built, adaptive 2005 Dodge Magnum RT on an epic 2,500-mile endurance trek from Columbus, Georgia, all the way to the birthplace of the independent living movement at UC Berkeley.
This isn't just a road trip. It's a mission to:
✅ Prove that physical limitations don't dictate your personal boundaries.
✅ Showcase adaptive driving tech (shoutout to my custom Sure Grip hand controls!).
✅ Raise critical operational funds for Access 2 Independence to help others in the disability community get the tools they need to live independently.
The open road belongs to everyone. I survived 25 years of paralysis to prove exactly that. [3]
How you can back the drive:

* Follow the build and the journey: on Instagram
* Donate or Partner: Hit the links below for per-mile pledges, corporate sponsorships, or fuel-card donations.

🔗 odogrollin.com
🔗 access2independence.com

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Would you like to adjust the tone of either version, or should we create a specific short text to send directly to local TV news anchors?

[1] [https://www.instagram.com](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbETg4UJBV_/)
[2] [https://www.instagram.com](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaN7Or_qMLx/)
[3] [https://www.instagram.com](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbJvdYClDTj/)

Access 2 Independence aims to provide members of the disabled community with service, support, and advocacy to empower them to participate in their community and live independently.

08/04/2026

🎉 We’re on WRBL! 🎉

We are excited to share that Access 2 Independence (A2I) was recently featured on WRBL to talk about our organization and one of our favorite programs, Bridging the Gap (BTG)!

If you know a young adult ages 18–22 with a disability, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

🌟 BTG is completely FREE and helps participants build the skills they need for greater independence, employment, and future success.

Participants receive:
✅ Life skills and employment skills training throughout the year
✅ A FREE week of summer camp at Roosevelt Warm Springs (RWS)
✅ Access to scholarship opportunities and post-secondary education and career resources
✅ Individual guidance and support as they transition into adulthood
✅ A $250 gift card upon successful completion of the program

Whether you’re exploring college, employment, vocational training, or simply building the confidence to live more independently, BTG is here to help, and there’s no cost to participate.

📢 If you or someone you know could benefit from BTG, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Access 2 Independence to learn more or to enroll.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post! Together, we can help more young adults with disabilities discover opportunities, build independence, and achieve their goals. 💙

07/16/2026

CIL Coast-2-Coast Drive-a-Thon

06/29/2026

CIL Coast-2-Coast Drive-a-Thon.

It's been an up-and-down journey but we hoping and planning for a little fundraiser.

More details to come. Remember, you're only as independent as you want to be.

06/07/2026

Ninja Camp 2026

Today, our students learned valuable lessons about self-advocacy, bullying prevention, peer pressure, situational awareness, and personal safety. They also practiced practical self-defense skills, including basic punches, kicks, blocks, escapes from grabs, and using a strong voice to get away from danger and seek help.

The highlight of the day was our board-breaking ceremony, where every participant had the opportunity to demonstrate their courage, determination, and confidence.

At Access 2 Independence, we believe that everyone can be a ninja. No matter your ability level, disability, diagnosis, challenge, or exceptionality, you are capable of learning, growing, and accomplishing amazing things. Today, these students proved that strength comes in many forms, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.

A special thank you to our incredible volunteers, supportive parents, and Cascade Hills Church for allowing us to use their Student Building and helping make this event possible.

Remember: Being a ninja isn’t about being the strongest person in the room. It’s about having the courage to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep believing in yourself.

No matter who you are or what challenges you face, you can be a ninja. 💪🥋❤️

06/02/2026

Just a few days left to get your tickets for the A2i Road to Independence at Synovus Park on June 14th! Come cheer on the Columbus Clingstones and the A2i youth program as they play the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Tickets are on the 1st base line and include all you can eat buffet.

https://www.gofevo.com/event/Access22?r=7

05/28/2026

As we prepare for an exciting summer ahead, Access2Independence recently hosted our Culminating Meeting for the Bridging the Gap (BTG) program! Families and participants gathered together to review all important camp information, receive packets with schedules, packing lists, recommended apps, and other must-know details to help everyone feel prepared and confident for camp.

We were also honored to welcome Birdie Hicks from Columbus Fire & Rescue, who presented the Yellow Dot Program and guided each BTG participant in creating their own Yellow Dot emergency information folder to take to camp and continue using at home.

The Yellow Dot Program is a simple but powerful safety initiative designed to help first responders quickly access important medical and emergency contact information during an emergency. Participants keep a completed medical information form in their vehicle or home, marked with a yellow dot decal, allowing emergency personnel to provide faster and more informed care when every second matters. We encourage all community members to learn more about this life-saving program by contacting their local fire and rescue department.

If your school, community group, organization, or agency would like to coordinate a Yellow Dot event or presentation, please contact Jennifer Lang at mailto:[email protected].

A special thank you again to Columbus Fire & Rescue for their continued partnership and commitment to supporting our youth and community. We also want to sincerely thank Denise Fox from Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency for attending the event, showing support for our BTG participants, and helping families clarify important camp information and details.

At Access2Independence, we believe preparation, safety, independence, and community partnerships create opportunities for success — and we are proud to continue building those opportunities together.

05/25/2026

A2i wants to show thanks to all service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to all the Gold Star Families who honor their loved ones today.