Josh Straub

Help A Disabled Business Owner Keep On Rolling

First off thank you for being here, the fact that you opened this means you’re the kind of person who’s selfless with their time and energy. Now let me ask you something: What did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut? A fireman? A doctor? My dream, my ultimate aspiration was a little different, I wanted to be a taxpayer. Someone who works, someone with a career, someone who supports himself rather than living off government support.

Thirty years ago, when I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy it was very rare for people like me to finish high school, go to college, or even work a job. But that didn’t stop my parents from teaching me the value of hard work and that disability was no excuse. Three decades and eight wheelchairs later I’m proud to say not only am I pursuing a PhD, in addition to paying taxes, but I have the privilege of working every day to help make the world a better place for people with disabilities.

I do this not only through Apex Access, my consulting firm, which works with game developers to make video games more accessible, but I also have the privilege of serving as the president and founder of DAGERSystem, a nonprofit that educates, empowers, and employs disabled people in the field of videogame accessibility. I have had the awesome opportunity to help a $20 billion industry lay the groundwork for a future where everyone can play games regardless of physical impairment.

Yet despite these humbling opportunities, I’m still reliant on assistive tech to perform basic daily functions and earn a living. My current handicap accessible van, a 2006 Chevrolet Express, is dying after “only” 125,000 miles. It has recurring mechanical issues that have made it increasingly costly to maintain, and the platform lift that raises and lowers me into and out of the van is so broken that it is often safer to leave the lift lowered and the van doors completely open when the vehicle is not in use in hopes that it will extend the lift’s life until we can afford a “new” van. I say “new” because handicap vans are extraordinarily expensive, and unless we reach our funding goal, we will most likely have to try to find a good deal on a used accessible vehicle. And believe me, those are rare indeed!

Prior to 2019, the original plan was for my parents and I to split the cost of our next vehicle, but then COVID hit, and three things happened: my mom retired early, my father lost his job, and my consulting business was placed largely on hold, as many games paused development during lockdown. As a result, here we are with a van that is nearly dead and limited financial resources to help in procuring another one. To make matters worse, as the US opens back up, there are certain trips I need to make that are not feasible with my current vehicle, such as a two-week trip to Ohio to receive a new service dog and business trips to the various conferences and conventions within the video game industry. My lack of safe and reliable transportation is starting to have a severe impact on my independence and future employment prospects, but worst of all it’s making it harder for me to run my nonprofit and achieve my lifelong goal of making life a bit easier for the millions of disabled people just like me.

So, I’m asking for your help. We’re trying to raise $60,000 for a new van that specifically meets my needs and should last for fifteen or more years, and every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated. Every one of your tax-deductible contributions will go directly to the purchase of a new van through the generous support of Help Hope Live. Even if you can’t contribute financially, I would like to thank you again for stopping by and reading my story. I hope that you will share this with others, and maybe together we can raise enough money to purchase a vehicle that allows me to earn a living, live independently, and continue to work toward a more inclusive future.

To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the GIVE button. And please share Josh’s page on your social media platforms so others may consider a donation.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!