• Come Roll With Me (CRWM) is a program that was established in June 2016 by Cathy Carver, PT, DPT. Dr. Carver is currently employed at Spain Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. She works with individuals with long-term mobility deficits that require them to utilize custom power or manual wheelchairs.
• As a physical therapist, Carver initially founded CRWM to educate younger generations about how wheelchair users navigate their environment. Her goal is to bridge gaps in communication, appreciation, and respect for how wheelchair users engage in everyday activities.
• Over the last 8 years, CRWM has done just that with over 50 community-held events including classes, workshops, simulation events, and more. These activities have impacted more than 100 families and approximately 700 people.
• CRWM also maintains 18 professional contacts who are wheelchair users who provide first-hand insight to the life of a wheelchair user, including challenges and adaptations, and promotion of access within the community during daily occupations.
• CRWM events have utilized two Birmingham, Alabama area libraries, the Galleria Mall, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Chipotle, Zaxby’s, Yogurt Mountain, Publix Grocery Store, WalMart, UAB Campus, and others.
• With active partnerships with UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy, inaugural events this year with the School of Public Health, and a proposal for a Disability Awareness Week in a large public school system, the impact of CRWM continues to spread. (updated Aug 2024)