This month, we continue our series on “Access to the World,” with a look at architecture. In this episode, Mindy speaks with Paul Robertson who lives with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, type 2J. Paul recently built a new home to suit his changing mobility and joins us to discuss the building process and what he did to make his new home accessible.

1. Paul Robertson is a businessman and entrepreneur from Maryland. He was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy is in his 30s and has not let that slow him down. After years of dealing with mobility challenges, Paul decided it was time to not only become a champion and spokesperson for muscular dystrophy, but also use his talent and passion for fishing, along with his business relationships, and align them with his dedication to increasing research funding, awareness, and support for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

In 2015, Paul wrote a letter to MDA’s CEO at the time saying he wanted to start a partnership with the MDA. He got a call the day his letter was delivered. And so, Fishing for Muscular Dystrophy was officially formed in a strategic alliance with MDA. FFMD is a professional full-time offshore fishing team that competes at the highest attended and most publicized events on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, and attends numerous events to support our partner network of top tier corporations. In the future, FFMD will add to the program with a salt water in-shore team and freshwater bass team, each led by another person with a muscle disease and passion for fishing.

Through tournament winnings, local galas and golf tournaments chaired by Paul, FFMD and Robertson have been able to raise more than $2m in support of muscular dystrophy.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FishingForMD

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fishingformd/?fref=ts

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fishing-for-md-muscular-dystrophy-llc/

Website: https://www.fishingformd.com

2. Mindy Henderson is the Editor-in-Chief of MDA’s Quest family of content and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, with her first book set to hit book stores in Fall of 2022.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/