About
Barrier Free Flagstaff
(BFF)
Creating a Sense of Place in Our Community
Barrier Free Flagstaff is a citizen's advocacy group on a mission to foster community understanding of how accessible and inclusive spaces can be achieved for all, promoting the principles of universal design.
Our Story
Barrier Free Flagstaff (BFF) started with a simple fact: our community is at its best when everyone can fully participate.
Founded in 2025 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BFF was born out of a shared passion to improve inclusion for people with disabilities in Flagstaff. Our founders and supporters all share personal stories and life experiences that opened our eyes to a critical truth: disabilities are a natural part of the human experience, yet unnecessary barriers constantly limit people's quality of life.
The reality is that accessibility impacts all of us. One in four adults in the United States lives with a disability, and anyone who lives a long life will likely experience a disability at some point. Building a universally accessible community isn't just the right thing to do, it makes practical sense for everyone.
No one likes to be excluded. When a space is inaccessible, people lose their independence, and local businesses miss out on a massive, loyal customer base. Fortunately, removing these barriers is often much simpler than it seems. BFF is here to bridge that gap through education, advocacy, and community partnerships.
Whether you are a local business owner, a resident with a disability, or someone who simply loves this town, we invite you to help us build a more welcoming, barrier-free Flagstaff. Because an inclusive community is a stronger community for all of us.
Meet The Board
Russell Randall
Founding Member & Director
My passionate commitment to disability advocacy is rooted in both my lived experience and a deep-seated belief in an equitable society. My disability advocacy is not just a cause; it is a daily pursuit of inclusion, self-determination, and justice for a community that has historically been marginalized.
Diversity is incomplete without the inclusion of voices of those with disabilities. I grew up with a brother who had a disability and I was with that brother when he drowned in the Salt River. My own disability is that of PTSD, something which I have struggled with all of my adult life. I have witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers that prevent individuals from accessing equal opportunities, whether in education, in employment, or in our
communities.
We can change this. Through universal design we can build a world where accessibility and inclusion are standard for all. And, working together, we can end ableism in all its forms and build a future where every individual is empowered to participate, contribute, and thrive exactly as they are.
Alida Pfeil
Founding Member, Secretary & Treasurer
Alida was born and raised in Flagstaff, AZ. She began professionally supporting people with developmental disabilities as a teenager and felt so at home she made a career out of it. She served at a local non-profit for almost 20 years, culminating in the position of Chief Operating Officer.
She is now building her own art business, Manic Dreams, which is focused on promoting mental health and destigmatizing mental illness. She also volunteers as the Chair of the Flagstaff Police Chief's Cross Ability Advisory Board and previously served on the Flagstaff Disability Awareness Commission (now renamed as the Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living).
Grounded by her own lived experiences with disability, she co-founded Barrier Free Flagstaff to champion universal design, with the belief that an accessible community is both a moral imperative and a logical step forward for everyone.
Jason Snead, JD
Founding Member and Legal Advisor
Jason is a Research & Communications Specialist with the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. Jason graduated from Arizona Summit Law School in 2016. He graduated from the University of Houston in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics. He currently serves on the Phoenix Mayor’s Commission for Disability Issues and as Treasurer for the Arizona Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE).
Keith Becker
Founding Member and Technology Wizard
Keith moved to Flagstaff in January of 1978 and has witnessed the many changes, both good and bad, that the city has undergone over 48 years.
In addition to Keith’s service as a Barrier Free Flagstaff board member, he currently serves as a commissioner on the City of Flagstaff’s Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living. Likewise he is an active board member of Flagstaff’s Police Chief’s Cross-Ability Advisory Board.
Keith and his wife respectively have several handicaps and they individually have encountered the barriers in businesses, municipal facilities, and public locations in Flagstaff. Keith, his wife, and friends continually confronting barriers is why Keith has become a strong advocate for Flagstaff’s disabled community and visitors.
Meet Our Most Active Members
Joseph Spence
My name is Joseph and I have lived in Flagstaff my whole life. I live with my parents and I'm very active in the Flagstaff community participating in Special Olympics, Lou Corporation day program, Camp Civitan, Jubilee Youth Group through Flagstaff Federated Church and Northern Arizona Community of Practice Transition Team. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, watching sports, playing Xbox and my job shadowing opportunities at Flagstaff High School basketball games. I am interested in helping Flagstaff become inclusive and accessible to people of all abilities because I have a disability and it is important to me that all people are able to access anywhere that they need or want to access.
Dr. Chris Lanterman
Chris Lanterman is an emeritus professor at Northern Arizona University in the College of Education. Dr. Lanterman's personal and professional interests focus on the lived experience of individuals with disabilities/disabled individuals, including disability equity and justice, physical and digital accessibility, and universal design in the physical and learning environments.As a blind individual, Dr. Lanterman advocates for the disability community through his own lived experiences and has been recognized locally and nationally for his efforts. He taught at Northern Arizona University for 22 years before retiring in 2023.
Taylor Custer
Taylor is a pediatric Physical Therapist who practices throughout Northern Arizona. She grew up in Flagstaff and is grateful to have met her husband and raise her kids here. She enjoys working with children of all ages, volunteering for Special Olympics, and helping with her kids booster clubs. Taylor values accessibility and believes every individual deserves the opportunity to fully participate in their community.
Participants
Everyone at Barrier Free Flagstaff sends a huge thank you to the people, places and organizations that have participated in Sense of Place Discoveries or have otherwise contributed to our mission. Your awareness and dedication to including all people makes a real life difference in our community!
