Travel is an essential part of life for many of us. Near or far, it reminds us how vast our world is and instills a renewed sense of solace for the places we call home. The urge to see and experience new places is part of human nature, but we don’t all experience travel in the same way.
For folks with disabilities, travel — and even navigating daily life within their own communities — comes with a collection of additional obstacles. Today, it’s estimated that more than 70 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability. Unlike other marginalized groups, any of us could develop a disability without warning that impacts the way we live our lives.
Mark Raymond Jr. was always a social person and often found himself in the outdoors before a life-changing 2016 accident. On an otherwise normal day during the Fourth of July weekend, the then-27-year-old was hanging out with friends when he dove off the edge of a boat. He didn’t realize how shallow the water was, broke his neck, and is now a C-5 quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair.
Though his life changed dramatically, Raymond refused to stay still. After his time in a California rehabilitation facility, Raymond was inspired by the progress of those around him, just how far they could push with the proper support and resources.
Raymond is now the CEO and founder of New Orleans nonprofit Split Second Foundation, dedicated to promoting the holistic wellness of people with disabilities. It’s grown over time to include a gym, Split Second Fitness, which maintains the same focus: empowering people with disabilities to stay active, healthy, and improve their quality of life.
Over time, Raymond has seen how access to these resources impacts people with disabilities. It comes with a ripple effect and built-in sense of community, enabling lives filled with activities from recreation and travel that may otherwise feel out of reach.
Mark Raymond Jr.
Creating the Split Second Foundation
During his initial time in rehabilitation, Raymond recognized just how many factors can affect the livelihood of folks with disabilities. From traversing recovery, rehabilitation, or routine therapies, to navigating their own communities and everyday lives, he noticed a common thread.
“It came with a big, general realization that there are not enough outlets in community for people with disabilities: one, to build those social connections, and two, to drive health and wellness,” Raymond said. “Specifically, after folks are discharged from traditional healthcare settings and models, like outpatient physical therapy, there isn’t much of anything in community.”
His program was different, with a truly collaborative nature fostering genuine community.
Two years later, he started the Split Second Foundation with a similar approach. Split Second Foundation’s team of professionals provide care focused on physical, mental, and societal wellness tailored to the unique needs of each individual. The Foundation also assists with navigating resources, case management, and individual advocacy.
“We strive to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, we are transforming lives and building a more inclusive society for all,” the Split Second Foundation website reads.
Availability vs. Access
Early on, Raymond also recognized that bringing this kind of program to his community in New Orleans was only the first step; just because something is available to those who need it doesn’t mean it’s accessible. For one, insurance coverage is a major barrier for people with disabilities who otherwise cannot afford these types of services, so Raymond made the Foundation a nonprofit to ensure the Split Second Cares program and its resources are free.
“Some of these programs can be really cost prohibitive to folks with disabilities in communities, so that’s a challenge. And for us, we took the philanthropic route creating a 501 to operate the program underneath so we could subsidize it through donations and philanthropy.”
Raymond opened Split Second Fitness in 2021, a gym offering individualized exercise and treatment regimens through activity-based therapy programs to people with disabilities. It not only increased the resources and services the nonprofit could provide, but it built upon Split Second Foundation’s ongoing focus on community-building as a crucial wellness tool.
“Being in community with people who get it, it completely changes people’s emotional state. Folks with disabilities otherwise may be unable to find these spaces,” Raymond said, nodding to the overall lack of accessible places made specifically for people with disabilities.
He referenced the importance of a “home base,” the things, people, and cultures that instill a sense of security and empowerment in our lives. For many people, Split Second Foundation takes on that role.
The Pursuit of Travel, Wellness, and Livelihood
So what does community, a home base, mean for folks with disabilities?
Raymond recognized how much society has improved as a whole for disability access, though he affirmed there’s still a lot more work to do. In our modern world, people with disabilities are disproportionately impacted. They are more likely to experience a lack of accessible transportation or living opportunities, both carrying intrinsic ties to wellness and quality of life. Access to services can’t fix every issue, but they serve a crucial role in creating new paths forward by bringing people together.
Life doesn’t end with disability, but it can be immensely challenging to explore a world that isn’t designed with you in mind. Feeling empowered to press on regardless is a trial in itself. Raymond has witnessed the amount of people in his community looking for those experiences firsthand, and Split Second is a way to plant those seeds.
“Depression is a huge driver for folks to be re-hospitalized, and folks don’t realize that,” he said. “When you combat it and give people access to the types of facilities and programs that we operate, and you get people out of that depressed state, then they want to live, right? They want to get out. They want to be active. They want to try to do things. They’re looking forward to life and not looking backwards at it.”
Looking Forward to Life: Creating Opportunity in the Disability Community
Since starting the Split Second Foundation, Raymond said the growth has been “tremendous,” as their current space has maxed out its capacity. The widespread community interest highlights just how crucial these services are for folks with disabilities, and Raymond is hoping for continued expansion to give more people access.
“Now, it’s about scaling our operations, getting to a sustainable business model and structure, and continuing to serve the community the way that we have,” Raymond said.
With expansion comes a number of new trials, like providing adequate transportation to Split Second Foundation facilities for those who need it and transitioning certain elements to a healthcare model insurance can reimburse to further expand access. Along the way, he pointed to the importance of advocacy: elevating local, state, and federal policy promoting better life experiences for people with disabilities.
“It has to be pushed,” Raymond said. “As we’re making renovations to cities, we’re making sure that accessibility is paramount. I think the advocacy piece is just as important as the program.”
The work of Split Second Foundation and similar programs help to shift the narrative, and we can all do our part to create access and opportunity for people with disabilities to truly thrive. Raymond pointed to simple things like avoiding disability bathrooms or parking spots: “Some of those little things that folks do are blocking access.”
To make the most direct impact, Raymond urged folks to donate to the cause. These funds allow organizations like Split Second Foundation to continue doing the work that makes the world brighter for those who are often excluded from it. If giving money isn’t an option, simply being mindful and kind goes a long way.
“Anybody’s life can change in a split second. Put yourself in somebody else’s shoes — this could be you.”
Photos courtesy of Split Second Foundation
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About the Author: Keegan Williams is a freelance editor and writer based in Los Angeles. They have written for publications including HuffPost, LGBTQ Nation, and High Times. Keegan has a passion for fitness. They are also immersed in LA’s underground dance scene. Catch them around town busting a move on the dance floor and working their magic behind the decks, primarily DJing percussive, groovy, high-energy techno alongside other electronic subgenres.
You can find them at keeganmwilliams.com or on Instagram @promwitch.
