One Day in the Chair™
What It Is…
One Day in the Chair™ is a unique, hands-on disability awareness experience — built on direct physical experience, not lectures, not videos, not statistics.
Non-disabled youth and adults “roll” through an obstacle course in a wheelchair or a walker — for a few minutes, an hour, or maybe a day — and quickly experience what navigating daily life with a disability is really like. People who use mobility devices compete in their own devices, as full participants and competitors, not as subjects of observation. Everyone starts. Everyone finishes. And everyone walks away changed.
This is not just about mobility — it’s about every disability someone carries into a room, seen or not, and what gets missed when we only look at what a body can or can’t do. The program has several components for your organization to pick and choose from (plus add your own). Click “Host Your Own Event” below to see what’s possible as we build a world of inclusion at Every Level. For Everybody.
Watch It In Action
Hanger Clinic Field Day
“Real inclusion starts with real experience.”
Our second public event was in 2026 — a modified obstacle course that was one of many activities offered as part of Hanger Clinic’s Field Day at Davenport University, focused on education and support for adaptive sports and related recreational living programs.
Our role that day, to accommodate other concurrent events, was to build an obstacle course on the track that was fun for both those with disabilities and those without, while being educational. There were course challenges along with breakout stations for different impairments (non-mobility), games such as cornhole toss, and other challenging activities for all skill levels.
1 in 3 people with disabilities are employed — vs. 76% of their peers.
The reaction from participants was immediate — both youth and adults walked away with an understanding no lecture or training could have given them. The sentiments were some form of “I never knew it was so difficult…”
Who It’s For
- Schools and universities — students, faculty, and staff
- Intermediate School Districts — as regional coordinators
- Veterans’ organizations and American Legion posts
- Rehabilitation and mobility organizations
- Scout troops and youth organizations
- Corporate teams and employee resource groups
What a Day Looks Like
- Brief orientation — the rules, safety, and the one rule that changes everything
- Obstacle course designed to replicate real-world navigation challenges
- Timed race open to all participants
- Debrief and reflection — where the real learning lands
Staff Training Options
We recognize that every organization is different. Some choose to have staff experience the program first — separately, so leadership arrives prepared and confident. Others prefer a side-by-side approach, where staff and participants share the experience as equals from the start. We leave that decision entirely to you. Both work. Both create lasting impact.
We also believe the best version of this program hasn’t been built yet — because the people who know your community best are you. If your organization has ideas that could enrich the day, we want to hear them.
Pricing & Partnership
One Day in the Chair™ is currently offered at no cost for time and facilitation. Reasonable material and travel costs apply. Any organizational fees are directed to a disability advocacy charity of the participating organization’s choice.
We are actively seeking sponsors, co-hosts, and community partners for our October 2026 regional championship event in Michigan — Disability Awareness Month.