037: Ride, Reflect, Reform: Transit Advocacy with Becky DeClerk

About this episode

The episode features an interview with Becky DeClerk discussing the intersection of healthcare, accessibility, and public transportation in Northwest Arkansas.

In episode 37, we talk with Becky DeClerk, an occupational therapy doctoral student and passionate transit advocate, about the intersection of healthcare, accessibility, and public transportation. We explore how OT and public transit go hand in hand in supporting independence and community participation. From sharing headphones with a jazz-loving stranger to testifying at city council meetings, Becky’s journey highlights both the systemic gaps and hopeful possibilities in Northwest Arkansas transit. Her advocacy bridges clinical insight and civic action in a way that’s deeply personal and powerfully effective. Show Links: FayetteForward Episode 17 w/ Joel Gardner I Am Northwest Arkansas Episode w/ Joel Gardner The Growing Minds Foundation Groundwork NWA Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) Passio GO! Parking Benefit Districts Benton County Strong Fayetteville Strong Citymapper Strong Towns Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission National Federation of the Blind RTC Washoe Mountain Line Transit SEPTA #FayetteForward #FayettevilleAR #FayettevilleArkansas #NorthwestArkansas #SpringdaleAR #SpringdaleArkansas #RogersAR #RogersArkansas #BentonvilleAR #BentonvilleArkansas #PublicTransit…

People in this episode

Hosts: Meredith Castin, Nick Castin

Guest: Becky DeClerk

Topics covered

• transit advocacy
• healthcare
• accessibility
• public transportation
• community participation
• occupational therapy

Keywords

• transit advocacy
• occupational therapy
• public transportation
• Northwest Arkansas
• community participation
• accessibility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ozark Regional Transit, The Growing Minds Foundation, Groundwork NWA, National Federation of the Blind

Places: Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville, Benton County, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville

More episodes of FayetteForward

• 041: Strong Towns National Gathering and Bottom-Up Change with Carlee Alm-LaBar · April 21, 2026 · 38 min
• 040: CNU 34 and Building Places That Love People with Mallory Baches · March 28, 2026 · 1h 4m
• 039: How County Decisions Shape Everyday Life with Evelyn Rios Stafford · January 27, 2026 · 43 min
• 038: The Art of Neighborhood Development with Z Niederman · December 11, 2025 · 56 min
• 036: The ULI Place Summit and How Real Change Happens with Megan Brown · October 22, 2025 · 46 min
• 035: The City We Build Together: A Conversation with Mayor Molly Rawn · September 1, 2025 · 52 min