Mobility Mania is still forging ahead and continuously looking for “Accessibility for All” in Itasca County. Mobility Mania is a nonprofit with a mission to make Itasca County the most accessible county in Minnesota, while also promoting this mission to the state and federal level.

In 2015, Mobility Mania had a historic moment when a Guinness Book of World Records was set in Grand Rapids because 351 people in wheelchairs rolled in a consecutive line for 3 minutes. What started out to be a small fundraising event to obtain a handicapped accessible vehicle for Myrna Peterson and Lee Isaacs, the result was a massive gathering of the community and a call to better the lives of people in wheelchairs. Many people participated and supported this event and Mobility Mania was born.

Many Mobility Mania projects and events have happened since 2015. They were able to raise money to attain accessible vans for five people in Deer River. In Ball Club, an accessible park/playground was designed in partnership with Circle of Healing and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. This accessible park/playground was designed in the shape of a turtle, which is culturally significant to the Ojibwe People. Both accessible and regular playground equipment pieces were installed. This will provide opportunities for integrated play for children of all abilities. Knowing that parents and grandparents will be accompanying kids to the park, the youth planners included an ADA certified picnic table and “chill space”. The kids anticipate these will be places of intergenerational social interaction, such as traditional storytelling and language revitalization.

The Mobility Mania Voucher Program, which was originally established with a grant from the Blandin Foundation and continues most recently with a grant from Essentia, is a free service that can be used for wheelchair accessible transportation up to 4 hours at a time, for a person in a wheelchair and their caregiver. An approximate service area includes a 20 miles radius from Grand Rapids, MN. This service is provided by the medical transportation specialists Samaritan Transport. You can find out more details on the Voucher Program on Mobility’s website mobilitymania.org under Transportation.

Mobility Mania is still making connections with the City of Grand Rapids, MN Council on Disabilities, MN Department of Transportation helping to assess the City’s plan and give recommendations on how to make the City more accessible. Work also continues on expanding the goMARTI automated vehicles coverage area.

If you are interested in helping Mobility Mania keep growing accessibility in Itasca County, you can donate to Mobility Mania Accessibility for All Fund at the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation online at gracf.org. You can also send or drop off donations at the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation at 350 NW 1st Avenue, Suite E, Grand Rapids, Minnesota. If you’d like more information about Mobility Mania, go to their website mobilitymania.org.