Walk, Talk and Roll Photo 1

Photo gallery: Walk, Talk and Roll

(Davey McNelly, Chair of the City of Athens Disability Commission, leads attendees in chants | Photo by Eric Boll)

ATHENS, Ohio — The seventh annual Walk, Talk and Roll saw disability advocates demonstrate just how inaccessible Uptown Athens is to mobility challenged residents.

The event was organized by the Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living, the City of Athens Disability Commission and Ohio University’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Organizers hosted the “Court Street Challenge,” which asked attendees to try and cross Court Street in a wheelchair within the crosswalk time limit.

No one could.

Event organizers also requested signatures on a petition asking members of the Ohio legislature to not cut Medicare/Medicaid spending as it will negatively impact people with mobility challenges. Organizers also shared resources, promoted the Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living’s wheelchair sports leagues and allowed members of the public to try out the wheelchair lift on a public transit bus.

(Micheal “DJ Barticus” Bart barely got off the sidewalk before he failed the “Court Street Challenge” at Walk, Talk and Roll 2025 | Photo by Eric Boll)
(Athens City Council President Sam Crowl got caught on a sidewalk lip when he attempted to do the “Court Street Challenge” at Walk, Talk and Roll 2025 | Photo by Eric Boll)
(Athens City Council 3rd Ward Representative Michael Wood only managed to get to the middle of the crosswalk during the “Court Street Challenge” at Walk, Talk and Roll 2025 | Photo by Eric Boll)

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