The James J. Peters Community Builder Award

James J. Peters (1945-2002) is perhaps peerless among United Spinal Association's historic leaders. He was appointed our Executive Director in 1971 and served for over 31 years in that role, helping preside over an era of seismic change for our community and for people with disabilities as a whole.

You could say it all started when Peters, together with activist Vietnam veterans like Ron Kovic of Born on the Fourth of July fame, brought national attention to the inhumane conditions endured by fellow veterans at the Bronx Veterans Affairs Hospital. In 1970, they persuaded Life magazine to run a feature that galvanized enough outrage at the treatment of paralyzed veterans to have it razed and reborn as a top-flight facility for spinal cord injury treatment and research. Today, the hospital bears his name-a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and advocacy.

His vision and profile exceeded the bounds of localism that can often capture advocates. He served on presidential and VA commissions and task forces that helped consolidate spinal cord injury care and scientific research as fields to be taken seriously in their own right. He helped found professional associations that were the forerunner to the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals.

His personal style of leadership helped gel a dedicated core of advocates and a broader community of veterans dedicated to changing the world for people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders and the broader disability community.

For all of these reasons, Peters was the obvious choice for the namesake of our Community Builder Award. It's a show of recognition and gratitude, but it's also a challenge. His accomplishments on behalf of our organization are matchless-for now.

The James J. Peters Community Builder Award honors an individual who has meaningfully improved the community for wheelchair users by successfully advocating for quality disability services, accessible infrastructure, or enhanced access to opportunities.