Improve quality of life for persons with diverse abilities and their families through legislative advocacy, economic empowerment, community partnerships, and education.
L3C stands for low-profit limited liability company. It is a business structure organized primarily for charitable or educational purposes. It can earn income while those purposes remain central to why it exists. At 100 Shades, that mission guides our services and partnerships.
Learn about Michigan L3CsEvents
Visit Disability Night Out Join Dr. Kimberly Barrington and Dave Bulkowski for the first national Disability Night Out. Show up. Share the table. Belong everywhere.
Wear purple or lavender, any shade, in solidarity.
The national event runs from 6–9 p.m. in each participant’s local time zone. Choose a restaurant, bring your people, and share your experience.
Rolling On The Road: Special Edition™
Watch Dr. Kimberly’s latest episode with architect Erick Mikiten, founder of Disability Night Out.
Disability Night Out brings people with disabilities, friends, families, and allies together to share a meal, connect, and make belonging visible in our communities.
Meet Erick and Disability Night OutWho We Are
100 Shades of Diverse Abilities L3C is a Michigan-based social enterprise founded by Dr. Kimberly Y. Barrington, a United States Navy veteran, disability advocate, public policy leader, educator, consultant, and media professional.
Our work centers the experiences, expertise, and economic power of people with disabilities, veterans, families, caregivers, and historically underserved communities.
We do not simply advocate for people with diverse abilities. We create opportunities for their voices, leadership, purchasing power, and lived experiences to influence the decisions that affect their lives.
What We Do
We help advance policies that strengthen protections, services, accessibility, independence, and economic opportunities for people with diverse abilities and their families.
We promote financial independence, entrepreneurship, employment, accessible business development, and recognition of the economic influence of the disability community.
Shana Thomas of Bel Air, Maryland, is one of many people 100 Shades has assisted in living a self-directed life through entrepreneurship. Her business, Shana’s Crochet Closet, creates handmade pieces like the poncho and crocheted bears featured here.
100 Shades has partnered with organizations across the United States, connecting disability advocates, civic groups, businesses, and community leaders to expand access, opportunity, and belonging.
We provide training, consultation, public speaking, community education, and accessible resources that help organizations move from awareness to meaningful inclusion.
Rolling On The Road launched May 7, 2020 with Dr. Kimberly and Dave to keep the disability community informed and connected during the pandemic. In January 2026, Dr. Kimberly began hosting Rolling On The Road: Special Edition on her own. Education also includes Minding ‘DIS’ Business™ Classes.
Our Impact
Through the leadership of Dr. Kimberly Y. Barrington, 100 Shades has contributed to significant disability, veteran, transportation, and economic initiatives.
Legislative Advocacy
On May 8, 2018, Dr. Kimberly Y. Barrington attended her first Legislative Day with Disability Advocates of Kent County, one of Michigan’s 15 Centers for Independent Living. Together, the group advocated for higher hourly wages for caregivers in Michigan, helping secure a 25-cent-per-hour increase.
During that visit, she met Ms. Wheelchair America, who was also there advocating for her own platform. That meeting inspired Dr. Barrington to consider running for a wheelchair pageant.
Winnie Brinks, then a Michigan state representative, was also there. In 2026, she became the Democratic nominee for Michigan lieutenant governor.
Accessible transportation became another focus of Dr. Kimberly’s legislative advocacy. Governor Rick Snyder launched the $8 Million Michigan Mobility Challenge to address transportation gaps for older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans. The program supported partnerships using technology and new service models to improve access across Michigan.
Dr. Kimberly joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer at the North American International Auto Show for the announcement of the challenge’s final grant round. More than $4.7 million was awarded to four projects serving Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, the central Upper Peninsula, and Southeast Michigan, expanding transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Browse the photos across the gallery. Select a photo to view it at full size.
Photos: Spc. Samantha Hall, U.S. Army National Guard. View the original event gallery.
Dr. Kimberly Y. Barrington testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee in support of a $3 million increase for Michigan’s 15 Centers for Independent Living. Her testimony was part of her work to restore state funding for the services that help people with disabilities live independently.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Dr. Kimberly to the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services to represent disability advocacy groups. The official announcement lists her as Kimberly Y. Kennedy, Th.D., founder of 100 Shades and a U.S. Navy veteran. Her term ran from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022.
The council advises Michigan’s public vocational rehabilitation programs and services. Her public-service journey also included attending a Christmas party at the Governor’s Mansion.
Dr. Kimberly ran for state representative in Michigan’s newly drawn House District 79 as Kimberly Kennedy-Barrington. Reform of Michigan’s disabled veterans’ homestead property tax exemption was part of her campaign platform.
The issue Dr. Kimberly championed in her 2022 campaign reached a statewide milestone when Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Acts 150, 151, and 152 of 2023. These laws restructured Michigan’s homestead property tax exemption for eligible disabled veterans and unremarried surviving spouses.
The changes included continuing approved exemptions without annual reapplication beginning in 2025, protecting eligible surviving spouses who move to a new homestead, and updating how applications and certain errors are handled.
“When You Agree to Make Decisions Based on the Most Excluded You Have Included Everyone.”
—Dr. Kimberly Y Barrington
100 Shades advances disability-centered policy and public accountability. We work with public officials, advocates, veterans, families, and community partners to strengthen protections, expand access, increase independence, and create measurable opportunity.
Economic Empowerment
People with diverse abilities are not merely recipients of services. We are consumers, professionals, entrepreneurs, taxpayers, voters, caregivers, homeowners, creators, and community leaders.
Our economic initiative examines purchasing power, financial priorities, employment experiences, and the untapped market influence of the disability community.
Explore Diversability Makes Economic SenseEntrepreneurship in Action
Bel Air, Maryland
Shana Thomas is one of many people 100 Shades has assisted in living a self-directed life through entrepreneurship. Her story reflects our commitment to helping people turn their talents into opportunities, exercise choice, and shape their own futures.
Through Shana’s Crochet Closet, she creates handmade crochet pieces. Dr. Kimberly proudly wears her purple and black poncho and celebrates her colorful crocheted bears, “The Bearingtons,” pictured below.
Education and Training
Awareness alone does not create accessibility.
100 Shades provides education, consultation, and training designed to help businesses, public institutions, community organizations, and decision-makers identify barriers and implement practical solutions.
Rolling On The Road launched on May 7, 2020 to meet an urgent need during the COVID-19 pandemic: keeping the disability community informed, connected, and able to find help. Dr. Kimberly and Dave shared updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), information about assistance, and community resources and services.
Through conversations and shared information, the program created a place for disability voices, practical questions, and connection during a time of uncertainty. Guests have included Haley Stevens.
After more than five years of Rolling On The Road, Dr. Kimberly began hosting on her own in January 2026 under the name Rolling On The Road: Special Edition™. This next chapter continues her commitment to community education, meaningful conversations, and amplifying the voice of the people.
Practical entrepreneurship education for people with diverse abilities, including veterans. Minding ‘DIS’ Business™ helps participants identify marketable skills, explore accessible ways to work, and develop a path toward paid work.
Community Partnerships
100 Shades has partnered with organizations across the United States to strengthen community connections and create more opportunities for people with diverse abilities. Together with disability advocates, civic organizations, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, we share knowledge, amplify voices, and work toward communities where everyone can participate.
Leadership, Advocacy & Education
Our founder, Dr. Kimberly, served as a judge at the Ms. Wheelchair America national competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in August 2026. The event celebrates women whose leadership and advocacy help build stronger communities. It offered another opportunity to connect with advocates from across the country and celebrate their voices.
Visit Ms. Wheelchair America
Gallery
People, places, and connections along the way — a growing collection of moments from Dr. Kimberly’s community life. Select a photo to view it at full size.
Veterans and Diverse Abilities
100 Shades advocates for veterans and military-connected families, with particular attention to accessible healthcare, housing, education, transportation, economic independence, and the removal of fragmented systems that prevent people from receiving the support they earned.
Our Founder
Founder & CEO of 100 Shades of Diverse Abilities L3C
Dr. Kimberly Barrington served 10 years in the U.S. Navy. She is a disability advocate, public policy leader, entrepreneur, educator, consultant, and media host whose work is rooted in lived experience and a commitment to systemic inclusion.
In just 13 years as a wheelchair user, Dr. Kimberly has built the legislative advocacy, entrepreneurship, community partnerships, and media work featured here. Her work strengthens independence, accessibility, economic opportunity, and dignity for people with disabilities, veterans, and historically underserved communities.
Her impact across Michigan includes testifying before a Michigan Senate Appropriations subcommittee in support of a $3 million increase for the state’s 15 Centers for Independent Living, helping advance disability legislation that became Michigan law, and advocacy surrounding the state’s $8 million Mobility Challenge to expand transportation opportunities for older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities.
She also played a leading philanthropic role in Disability Advocates of Kent County’s $2.5 million capital campaign. Through Absolutely Accessible Kent, she worked alongside Disability Advocates of Kent County, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Experience Grand Rapids, and community partners to improve accessibility in hospitality, public spaces, transportation, and community experiences.
That work included accessibility efforts connected to the Amway Grand Plaza, host hotel for the August 2026 Ms. Wheelchair America national competition. Accessible community experiences also include Viewfinder, a downtown Grand Rapids photo walk and roll created for people with disabilities — another way for people to participate, connect, and share their perspectives.
As host of Rolling On The Road and founder of PPTV™, Dr. Kimberly brings disability voices, community stories, and public policy into the public conversation. In January 2026, she began hosting Rolling On The Road: Special Edition™ on her own. In 2022, she carried her advocacy into electoral politics as a candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives.
After representing Michigan in wheelchair pageantry, Dr. Kimberly brought her experience to the Ms. Wheelchair America judges’ table in August 2026. Her work continues to turn lived experience into legislative action, community change, and opportunities for others.
News and Media
Visit PPTV™, an independent, Black, veteran, and disability-owned digital media network founded by Dr. Kimberly Y. Barrington. PPTV elevates community voices, examines public policy, highlights leadership, and tells stories traditional media frequently overlooks.
Watch PPTV™Partner With Us
Work with 100 Shades of Diverse Abilities L3C to create policies, programs, partnerships, and economic strategies that produce measurable community impact.