Wisevoter
Columbus

ORee Crittenden Launched Coast-2-Coast Drive-a-Thon

The assistant director has begun a 2,500-mile journey to raise funds for the Access 2 Independence non-profit organization.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Special Needs

Screen-print poster illustration of a van driving on an open highway at sunset, evoking a cross-country journey for disability accessibility.
ORee Crittenden has begun a 2,500-mile cross-country drive from Georgia to California to raise awareness and funds for the non-profit Access 2 Independence. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe cross-country endurance events are an effective way to improve local disability awareness?

ORee Crittenden has officially launched the CIL Coast-2-Coast Drive-a-Thon, a 2,500-mile journey from Columbus, Georgia, to Berkeley, California. The mission aims to raise operational funds while demonstrating adaptive independence for the disability community.

Why it matters

The journey serves to promote greater awareness for people with disabilities while securing financial support for the 501(c)(3) non-profit Access 2 Independence. By completing the drive, Crittenden highlights the possibilities of adaptive technology in daily life.

The vehicle utilized for the journey is a 2005 Dodge Magnum RT modified with electronic Sure Grip drive-by-wire hand controls and a BMX-style handle. The organizer is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization.

The players

ORee Crittenden

The assistant director of Access 2 Independence who is completing the cross-country drive.

Access 2 Independence

A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides services for the disability community.

Columbus State University

The academic institution where Crittenden earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2005.

The details

To navigate the journey, Crittenden customized the vehicle to accommodate physical limitations caused by a neck and shoulder injury sustained in 2001. The drive serves as a practical demonstration of the accessibility tools and assistive technology that Crittenden advocated for while serving on the Georgia Tech Tools for Life board.

Timeline

  1. September 2001: Crittenden sustained a neck and shoulder injury.

  2. 2005: Crittenden graduated from Columbus State University.

  3. 2007: Crittenden began volunteering for Access 2 Independence.

  4. 2012: Crittenden became assistant director of the organization.

  5. September 22, 2026: The CIL Coast-2-Coast Drive-a-Thon was announced.

Roadmap

This endurance journey extends the outreach mission of the Georgia Tech Tools for Life assistive technology board by demonstrating assistive hardware in a real-world environment. It underscores the broader industry shift toward integrating sophisticated aftermarket electronic controls into everyday vehicles.

Residents can support the local non-profit by contributing to the campaign or following the journey's progress to better understand adaptive driving requirements. This initiative provides practical visibility into the modifications necessary for individuals with mobility injuries to maintain independent transit.

The takeaway

Advocacy for the disability community is often most effective when it demonstrates the practical application of assistive technologies in real-world scenarios. Readers looking to support the cause can leverage the organizational resources provided to understand how to improve accessibility in their own transit needs.

Further reading

Learn more about local advocacy and support services at the Special Needs section.

More information

View the Access 2 Independence campaign information to track the progress of the drive.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Now Georgia.

Live Poll

Do you believe cross-country endurance events are an effective way to improve local disability awareness?