Chronically Sarcastic
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Wheelchairs AREN'T Luggage
Hi there!
I’m Tim Rose, and I was lucky enough to be born with a significant physical disability. I was also lucky enough to be born with two parents who raised me to push the envelope, taught me to always advocate for myself, and to use my voice for good. I’ve had some great experiences in my life, to being privileged enough to live, study and work on three continents, to become a leader in business and advocacy, and to be inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2024. Outside of professional spheres, I have a passion for writing and learning from different cultures.
My Story
Hi Chronically Sarcastic supporters!
My name is Tim and I’ve used a power wheelchair my whole life. Back in 2016, I was asked to do a professional speaking engagement in Cleveland, Ohio. I excitedly accepted, and, because I had already flown to Cleveland the year before, I did not think anything of it when I went to book my plane well in advance. It was then that I was told that they had switched the plane (from the year previous) and that my wheelchair no longer fit on the plane and there was nothing they could do. “Your wheelchair is just like an oversized piece of luggage“ I was told “if it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit“. And with that, the #wheelchairsarentluggage campaign was born.
For the last eight years, my case has been in the Canadian court system, slowed down by the global pandemic that we all went through in 2020. In 2023, the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that the airline had to take steps to better accommodate passengers with mobility devices. Rather than accepting that ruling and getting on with improving their service for all passengers, the airline decided to appeal that decision to the federal court of appeals. Well, just a few days ago, that appeal was dismissed, and the original decision was upheld, a critical victory for passengers with disabilities who, like me, just want to access our transportation system on the same basis as everyone else.
But this was never just about me as an individual or my right to fly to Cleveland. The #wheelchairsaren’tluggage. Campaign is a movement, a movement centred upon equitable travel for passengers with disabilities and especially those who rely on mobility devices. That’s why I’m excited to be partnering with Chronically Sarcastic Clothing to develop the #WheelchairsAren’tLuggage Exclusive shirt to represent the movement that I started eight years ago. To be clear, I have never received any money from this case, and I am not receiving any proceeds from the sale of the shirts. This is about keeping the movement going, raising our voices as a society and saying “this cannot happen to another person with a disability ever again“ that’s why I am thrilled to be partnering with this amazing, Canadian owned, disability forward brand so that the #WheelchairsAren’tLuggage Movement never goes away.
​20% OF PROCEEDS WILL GO TO LEGAL AID CANADA
Help Me Thank My Legal Team And Keep the Movement Alive!
By Purchasing A Shirt!