This Rhode Island Woman Believes This Table Can Change Lives
GoLocalProv News Editor Kate Nagle
This Rhode Island Woman Believes This Table Can Change Lives
Tina Guenette Pedersen, along with members of The Steel Yard, will be unveiling “Tina’s Table,” which will feature bench seating designed to look like powered or manual wheelchairs — as well as room for up to three functional wheelchairs.
For Pedersen, a four-time cancer survivor, four-time stroke survivor, survivor of two heart attacks, and motorized wheelchair-user, it’s all about having “a seat at the table.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Every time I go to an event — I just want a seat on a table,” said Pedersen, the founder of RAMP (Real Access Motivates Progress). “I want to make the statement that when we sit down, we’re all the same and we can share our ideas from the same place. There’s always room to make space for us at the ‘end.’ I want it in the middle — I want to be there and speak my mind.”
“I want to provide space for service dogs, moms with strollers...there is no part of this table this isn’t accessible and functional and just plain beautiful,” said Pedersen. “This table represents everyone.”
Pedersen spoke with GoLocal about partnering with The Steel Yard several years ago — and strengthening the bonds since then.
“Back in 2019, we started working together. I love their space, but found there was a lot I couldn’t get to, so I became fast friends with them,” said Pedersen.
That partnership led to increased accessibility at the location, to allow wheelchair users the ability to take part in jewelry-making to blacksmithing — “everything down to the bathrooms,” said Pedersen of the effort.
That was just the beginning.
“Because RAMP doesn’t charge for what we do, and we’re both nonprofits, I said let’s partner for an event, and to reach out to businesses to be more accessible,” said Pedersen. “That’s where ‘Accessibility is Beautiful’ came from. I said let’s offer a public project about disability in art — I had this idea for some time and said I just need someone to bring it to life .”
“This design was developed with our apprentices and staff, and fabrication will be completed in our accessible metal shop. There is room for everyone at Tina’s Table,” said Howie Sneider with The Steel Yard.
The project will be officially unveiled at 11:30 AM on Tuesday morning in Kennedy Plaza — but Pederson hopes the design gains traction, especially among local businesses.
“Right now, it’s the perfect time for this table,” said Pedersen. “‘Take it Outside’ — what did it do? It took the closest parking spots [next to restaurants] for outdoor tables. So then what happened? We can’t get to the [parking] spots that were there before. People need these tables.”
For Pedersen, there are no excuses for businesses and restaurants not to be accessible
“There’s a lot of money for businesses to be ADA federally compliant,” said Pedersen. “The good thing about this table, it can be made to fit your dimensions.”