She works for 'change' in public accommodations

Linda Hood, a lifelong athlete and adventurer, has shifted her determination from physical feats to advocacy after a 2018 illness left her paraplegic. Once active in marathons, triathlons, skiing, and even climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Hood now channels that same endurance and focus into improving accessibility for people with disabilities.

Named Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota in 2022, Hood has made adult-sized changing tables in public restrooms her mission. She notes the humiliation of being changed on floors and has worked to expand access in stadiums, at the Minnesota State Fair, and now in airports.

A recent federal law mandates adult changing tables in all new public buildings, and Hood played a key role in advocating for a bill requiring them in airports, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. She personally traveled to Washington, D.C., meeting with legislators to represent the millions who need these accommodations.

Hood likens lobbying to a tennis match of back-and-forth advocacy and emphasizes that her efforts are for all caregivers and people with disabilities. She continues to campaign for wider restroom accessibility, including at sports stadiums and highway rest stops, and plans to bring the movement to international events like the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

Despite her paralysis, Hood remains resolute, writing about her experiences in The Cross Carries Me and a forthcoming book, and inspiring others with her message: everyone has something to give, and every person can make a difference.