WHEELING OUR WAY THROUGH THE USA!
Come along the journey with us as we road trip across the country, exploring access and fueling conversations for one week in each of the beloved 50 states, living with disabilities.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Dear Friends and Supporters of Escape Portland Bubble,
Thank you for your support in helping us get all the way to Florida. We had the privilege of meeting some incredible people there. Evan Piper of Piper Co.(piperco.com) and Marsha Freedman of the SETPrinciple.com just to name a couple.
Unfortunately due to health, safety and financial logistics we felt it best to return to Portland and investigate new ways to relaunch or continue the spirit of Escape Portland Bubble(E.P.B.) at a later date.
Although our mission lasted much much shorter than anticipated, we still believe that we learned about the other side of the country and that we return to Portland more enlightened and encouraged by the decency of humanity than we were when we left.
We believe that the spirit and mission of E.P.B. is more important than ever. Talking to people with curiosity rather than judgment, acceptance rather than criticism, compassion, and playfulness rather than anger, fear and resentment are all keys to building bridges and developing deeper connections. I believe going forward that America needs these conversational approaches now more than ever. We look forward to living those communication ideals here in Portland while we look for the most effective ways to continue Escape Portland Bubble.
As we look to retool EPB, we seek your input. Subscribe to our email newsletter to stay up-to-date. Feel free to reach out if you have any ideas or resources for potential sponsors, social media talent, media contacts, home stay options, or any other resources that you think would be valuable in the relaunch of E.P.B.
Thank you all!
Todd & Jared
SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING EXACTLY?
Welcome to Todd and Jared's epic road trip adventure, where we plan to escape the familiar streets of Portland and embark on a year-long journey across all 50 states of the United States. In 2025, join us each week as we explore a new state, immersing ourselves in diverse landscapes, cultures, and experiences. Along the way, we will challenge ourselves with four unique challenges in each state that push us out of our comfort zones, encourage dialogue, explore accessibility and diversity and perhaps discover that we have more in common than we do a part. Follow our adventure as we discover what lies beyond our comfortable bubble, forging connections and finding inspiration in every mile traveled.
IN EACH STATE TODD WILL…
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Hold a Disability Meeting
By visiting all 50 states, I aim to document my experiences with the accessibility or lack of it at various attractions, restaurants, and public spaces. My goal is to engage in open discussions on how we can improve access and make environments more inclusive for individuals with disabilities with town hall lunch at a leading disability organization. We will learn from each other and I will have a firsthand look at what is working and what is not for people with disabilities throughout the country.
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Discover Housing Challenges
Housing is a critical aspect of life that affects everyone, particularly those with disabilities. By meeting with housing advocates, builders, realtors, and zoning officials in each state, I hope to better understand the unique housing challenges faced by disabled individuals in different regions. These conversations will provide valuable insights into how communities can enhance their housing policies and practices to support inclusivity and accessibility.
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Connect Through Communication
As a veteran member of the Toastmasters Club, I plan to attend a members meeting in every state. It is an outstanding way to get to know community leaders and learn how public speaking and community engagement vary across the country. Toastmasters provides a unique platform to meet new people, share ideas, and build connections, all while enhancing my own skills. This experience will allow me to exchange valuable experiences with others who share a commitment to improving communication.
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Spread Smiles Through Humor
Humor has a special way of bridging gaps and connecting people. That’s why I will be performing at least one five-minute set in every state. My goal is to explore how different regions appreciate diverse styles of humor. Each performance will be an opportunity to engage with locals, appreciate their sense of community, and spark laughter—all while raising awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
MEET THE ROAD TRIPPERS…
MEET
TODD KIMBALL
Todd Kimball
Contact: 503-960-4683 Hello@EscapePortlandBubble.com
My name is Todd Kimball. I was born three months premature and weighed only two pounds. Doctors told my mom I would live less than an hour. Fast forward 56 years, I have co-founded a syndicated radio show, had an eighteen year career in the staffing business (including running my own agency in Portland for seven years,) founded a nonprofit which empowered people with intellectual disabilities, and I’m currently one of only a very few Realtors in a power wheelchair in the U.S.
The recent election has spurred me to new adventure and innovation. But in order to truly understand that, I need to take you back two years. I was dating a woman who also had Cerebral Palsy and used a power wheelchair. In many ways we were very compatible but we had one major difference.
I was raised to be very Independent and due to life and medical circumstances, my parents checked out of my life when I was 15. My girlfriend on the other hand, lived a very sheltered, family-oriented life. She had seldom left her home in her 45 years. We had taken turns living together in Portland and at her place and on one particular phone call, she was worried saying I don’t know if I can live in Portland. Where will I get my caregivers? I have my medical team here. I might get homesick and need to go back to my parents. I said, “Sometimes I think it would be easier for me to live in every state for one week over the course of a year than it would for you to leave home and start a life.” Ever since I uttered those words, I thought it was a good idea and an interesting challenge. I think many people especially those with disabilities are afraid to leave their home environment and see America because there are too many logistics to organize.
With the results of the recent election, I decided this is the time to embark on the 50 state in one year journey across America. I have lived in my Portland bubble for 22 years. It is time for me to leave that bubble and discover America!
There are four meaningful things that I will do to connect with people in every state I live in. I won’t be allowed to leave the state until I accomplish these four things. If you’re interesting in connecting with us along the journey, sharing any tips or tricks or helping fund our journey, reach out directly!
MEET
JARED KENNEDY
Jared Kennedy
For decades I had referred to myself as hyperactive, only finishing the expression with a subtle comic touch to allow my wife the comfort of assuming that I was kidding. But it was one way of slowly admitting to myself that I had inherited my mom's manic depression, more recently called bipolar disorder.
I'm Jared Kennedy, and I was only recently diagnosed with my mental health condition at about age 50. When I look back now, I can see that I was affected starting in my teenage years, as my mom had also been. The great advances in treatment between the 1950s when her onset occurred, and the 1980s when I was first affected, would've been a big advantage to me if I hadn't been too terrified to admit sickness and accept treatment until 35 years later.
Before treatment, I rode the wave of hypomanic and manic energy, sometimes for many years. I worked 70 hours per week for the entire 1990s running two businesses in my twenties, enjoyed large amounts of hiking and backpacking and bicycling, but simultaneously I bothered people around me with my intense high energy and uncompromising standards.
I’m proud of my more unusual accomplishments, but my most enjoyable jobs have been working directly with folks who experience physical challenges. It may be presumptuous, but I like to think that my neurodivergence allows me to share something in common with these friends as we each face our obstacles and difficulties.
So heck, why not make it all that much MORE challenging and fun?! Practically on a whim, my wheelchair-user buddy and I started fantasizing about a trip where we’d visit all 50 American states in one year together. At first the planning discussions were more of a coping exercise coming out of the pandemic, but the idea has grown into an obsession.
Some obvious themes: can a wheelchair user navigate obstacles making comfortable and safe everyday life possible, while showing the world how we can not only live life on our own terms, but learn new things and demonstrate life skills? And can a caregiver with a less visible condition keep safe from behavioral triggers and traps?
Help Support us on our Journey....
Help Support us on our Journey....
UPDATE: Your donations will be saved to kick off our next adventure. Stay tuned for more detail about what your valuable donations will go towards with this disability social
Help us stay fueled along our voyage across the country as we explore access and diversity, create dialogue and fuel connections in each state. With just the basic necessities in mind, we need to ensure that we are safe and have food, water and shelter in each state, every week and we’ll need your help!
We predict each state will require about $6,000. Help us by sponsoring a full state or give what you can in a one-time or reoccuring donation!
DISCOVER OUR
Road Trip Journal
Want to hear tales from the road? Learn about the insider tips we learn from each state? Or perhaps you want to share your own insight or recommendations from your home state?
We’ll take it all and more! Follow along our journey as we wheel across the USA, reading our full recap road trip journal entries every single week. We’ll detail how we were able to accomplish each of our four goals, the challenges and adversities we face, and the conversations and incredible people we meet along the way.
Subscribe to our email newsletter below to get notified of each state’s journal post, straight to your inbox and follow us on instagram to see it all happen, behind-the-scenes, in real time.
CONTACT US
Let’s chat! Tell us your recommendations for your home state. Places to stay? Why your city would be a good fit? Want to partner with us to host one of our challenge events? Email us at Hello@EscapePortlandBubble.com or in the contact form below.