For Lisa Franklin, who became partially paralyzed in 1996 when a drunk driver struck the van she was riding in, Disability Pride Month is about people with disabilities “owning” who they are.
“We need people to show up as they are,” explains Ms. Franklin, who is a wheelchair user and the founder, president, and CEO of the nonprofit Warriors on Wheels of Metropolitan Detroit (WOW). “We don’t want to be called ‘handicapped.’ By owning our disabilities and using our voices, we are making the world more accessible and dispelling stigma.”
She doesn’t remember the accident – only waking up one week later in the ICU to learn the extent of her injuries. Ms. Franklin says when she opened her eyes, she rejoiced that she had the vigor to live for whatever would come next. She not only survived but was ready to thrive.
As she moved forward with her life, one of the first things she realized was that the barriers she encountered as a wheelchair user were unacceptable, Ms. Franklin says. That was the first motivator for what would become her life’s work.
Another turning point came in 2004, when she entered the Ms. Wheelchair Michigan pageant and won the title of first runner-up. Ms. Wheelchair America and its state competitions recognize contestants for the beauty of being vocal advocates for people with disabilities.
Ms. Franklin says the competition was one catalyst for launching WOW, including the inspiration of a question asked by the judges: "If you could be any animal, what would you be?”
Her answer, which Ms. Franklin says came out of nowhere – part of her belief that God has put her where she is to serve a purpose – was, “I would be an eagle so I can soar.”
She’s lived up to that vision, fueled by her determination to create a barrier-free society.
Ms. Franklin established WOW in 2008 to focus on advocacy, disability rights, accessibility, community engagement, and development. Although WOW has earned worldwide recognition, her priority is making a difference for local urban communities such as Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Dearborn. WOW advocates for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws impacting people with disabilities, while addressing individuals’ human spirit, morals, and values. After all, accessibility and inclusion are central to creating the sense of belonging that helps people flourish.
To that end, Ms. Franklin was integral in establishing Detroit’s Office of Disability Affairs. She is also a member of many organizations with goals similar to WOW’s, such as Detroit Disability Power, Detroit Advocates of the Blind, Deaf Black Advocates Detroit, and many more.
With a mission of pushing for systems change in areas including transportation, housing, education, and civic access, WOW has established key programs that protect the rights of people with disabilities. This includes improving accessibility in public spaces such as the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Belle Isle Beach, Hart Plaza, and the Detroit Riverfront. WOW also conducted law enforcement sensitivity training through a partnership with Arc Detroit, working with the Hamtramck, Ferndale, and Dearborn police departments. Most recently, the organization established the WOW Boutique, which offers free clothes every Wednesday.
What’s more, Ms. Franklin’s leadership of WOW has earned her numerous awards, such as the Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council, the Judge Deborah Thomas Social Justice Award from the African American Institute, and a 2024 Disability Pride Month Game Changers Award from the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, and Comerica Bank.
Ms. Franklin wholeheartedly embraces Disability Pride Month, because it not only celebrates people for who they are but for what they can overcome. For her, it has been a journey of recognizing her own disability as part of her personal journey and embracing her ability to soar – and giving others the chance to do the same by removing barriers to inclusion.
“Disability Pride Month is so important,” Ms. Franklin says, “because if people don’t understand everything people with disabilities can do, this is a time for them to find out.”