REACH Lab: Research, Engagement and Advocacy for Community Participation

04/06/2026

Happy National Public Health Week! This week, we are honoring everyone who is doing public health, from epidemiologists to advocates, social scientists to community health workers, and health educators to policy analysts and rehabilitation specialists (OT, AT, PT, RT, and so on)

There is so much going on to keep the people healthy and safe, and there are so many careers, fields, and processes going on that you may not even see as public health. We highly recommend this video from ASPPH to see just how huge of a field public health is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQkGx6gRGIY

Community mobility, disability inclusion, and occupational therapy are all public health, and what we are all about here, at the REACH Collective.

You may not even know it, but YOU might be public health as well!



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Logo for National Public Health Week, courtesy of

04/02/2026

We talk a lot about community mobility here, at the REACH Collective. So, what exactly is that?



When we say community mobility, we mean all the ways in which someone can travel to, from, or around areas. This includes walking, cycling, using public transportation and rideshares, using wheelchairs and assistive technology, and any infrastructure needed for that end, including curb cuts, ramps, countdown clocks, bus shelters, station safety, and paratransit scheduling.



It takes a village to ensure everything runs smoothly and everyone is able to get from A to B. We should not be limited by one option (usually driving) to get to where we need to go, and more people are able to leave their homes and be in the community when community mobility is done right. This is especially true for people who can’t drive (such as the elderly and people with certain disabilities), and this is why we do this kind of work.

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Image illustrates many methods of community mobility: walking, cycling, driving, riding the bus, and riding the train. This list is not exhaustive.

04/01/2026

The first Wednesday of April is National Walking Day. Walking is an important part of community mobility because it helps you get around short distances (or long ones, if you’re into that), as well as connect from transit to a destination in that crucial first or last mile. Promenades are also a great way to relax, especially in a scenic neighborhood or on a trail. Here’s some of our favorite places to walk around in Greater Philadelphia

Make sure to take a stroll today to celebrate and enjoy the nice weather (before the storm this afternoon)!

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Image 1: Baltimore Avenue and Clark Park at sundown - West Philadelphia
Image 2: Dupont Street Stairs at sundown - Manayunk
Image 3: Trail bridge over the marshes at John Heinz Wildlife Refuge
Image 4: Schuylkill River Trail section just past Norristown

03/25/2026

The long security lines at major airports these days remind us of how important alternate ways of traveling are. Now, you may not be able to get to San Francisco or Brussels without flying (unless you're into weeks-long trips by train or ship), but we are so lucky in Philadelphia that we have so many amazing places to get to without needing to fly (or even drive, in some cases). The photos below showcase many of the day-trips or weekend trips you can take and enjoy. Because community mobility isn't just about getting to and from work, but about enjoying everything communities have to offer, including fun and recreation.

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Image 1: Boston Common in the summer
Image 2: Atlantic City beach
Image 3: View from train car while crossing the Susquehanna River in Maryland, in the Fall
Image 4: Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg
Image 5: New York City skyline viewed from Roosevelt Island
Image 6: Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

Note: All these destinations are within 6 hours of Philadelphia and fully accessible by train - and there are many, many others not mentioned here, like Pittsburgh, Williamsburg (VA), and Mystic (CT)

03/25/2026

Countdown clocks are a great way to ease the nerves for anyone who takes transit, especially people with disabilities. We're excited to see how the pilot goes, and we hope to see one of these clocks at the bus stops near our office soon!

SEPTA is launching a pilot program to deploy digital real-time arrival displays at selected bus and trolley stops across the system. The first 10 devices will be installed later this spring.

The screens which are solar-powered and use e-paper technology are unique because they are small enough to be mounted on a bus stop sign pole.

The e-paper displays are both accessible and sustainable. The solar-powered devices require no equipment beyond a mounting pole which allows for installation at many bus stops that lack access to power or other infrastructure. Each device is equipped with a text-to-speech button enabling blind and low-vision riders to access the same real-time service information.

Knowing when the next vehicle will arrive was a top priority for many of the 20,000 riders who participated in comprehensive community engagement efforts for the New Bus Network.

Pilot locations will be selected based on two key criteria: overall customer impact and geographic equity. This ensures that the benefits of improved real-time information reach riders across all parts of SEPTA’s service area. Bus stops as well as T, G, D and M Metro stations will be considered for device locations.

Riders are encouraged to share feedback about where they would like to see these devices installed.

03/18/2026

Sharing with our folks for visibility. There's a virtual meeting happening tonight on the new SEPTA bus network. We're excited to see more reliable service, especially on the 3 bus that runs right past our campus!

The New Bus Network Team is popping-up at various locations next week—including virtually on your screen—to answer questions about bus route changes coming to your neighborhood. We look forward to seeing you!

Learn more: https://wwww.septa.org/bus

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

03/16/2026

We are excited that Neurodiversity Celebration Week begins today! Neurodiversity is an umbrella term for any neurological condition that impacts how a person sees, processes, and understands the world around them, including ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, serious mental illness (SMI), and more. Learn more about it here: https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/

03/14/2026

As the week draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Capitol Crawl. On March 12, 1990, disability rights activists climbed the steps of the US Capitol to protest the lack of accessibility in daily life, including for government institutions. Their efforts led to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passing 4 months later, on July 26, 1990.

We are continuing the work they are doing today, ensuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have the means, knowledge, and confidence to get around their communities, live independently, and enjoy full, rich, meaningful lives.

You can learn more about the Capitol Crawl here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/iconic-civil-rights-protest-you-dont-know/

03/09/2026

Accessibility doesn’t only help people with disabilities. For example, curb cuts also help people carrying heavy luggage. Elevators also help everyone avoid having to climb 3 floors to the office. Screen readers can also read to you that text due for class or that important document while driving, like a podcast.



This is called the curb-cut effect, and there's so many other examples out there. Designing for accessibility almost always helps more people than it intends to. What is your favorite curb-cut effect?





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Image of a curb cut near our office.

03/06/2026

We are grateful for PA Governor Josh Shapiro's proclamation honoring Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

Governor Josh Shapiro has issued a proclamation declaring March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

The proclamation reads, in part, “ whereas individuals with developmental disabilities are an integral part of our society, making meaningful contributions to our communities, workplaces, and culture…we must work together to raise awareness about the barriers faced by individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as the opportunities we must create for growth, inclusion, and empowerment through education, respect, and compassion.”

Join us in honoring Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

03/02/2026

We're so excited for the 50th Winter Paralympics, hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Amprezzo, to start this week! The opening ceremony is tomorrow, March 6. Athletes from around the world will be competing in 6 sports, with events tailored to ensure all disabilities are represented and able to compete. Go team!

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Photo illustrates athletes competing in various winter sports, some of them in forms adapted to their respective disability.