Spinal cord injury, SCI; when the vital cable of nerves finds its ability to distribute messages from the brain to the body impaired. It is a life changing event. Accidents or trauma which damages your spinal column or backbone often leads to paralysis or other significant impairment of motor, sensory, or autonomic function.
Paralysis is the loss of the ability to move and sometimes to feel in part or most of the body. Various types illnesses or injuries cause paralysis. Impairment symptoms vary but frequently include pain, numbness, loss of sensation and muscle weakness or dysfunction. These symptoms occur in different areas of the body depending on the level of the spinal cord affected.
Under Organizations, you will find an assortment of resources for SCI professionals, veterans and others people with spinal cord injuries.
Under Foundations, you will find additional resources. Plus the support for research, education and some quality of life grants to assist individuals.
Organizations
[otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”American Spinal Injury Association” opened=”closed”]ASIA the premier North American professional organization in the field of Spinal Cord Injury care, education, and research.
Our Mission is to set lofty goals for our organization and our members including:
- Promoting and establishing standards of excellence for all aspects of health care of individuals with spinal cord injury from onset throughout life
- Educating members, other healthcare professionals, patients and their families as well as the public on all aspects of spinal cord injury and its consequences
- Advocating for injury prevention, improve care, and increase availability of services
- Seeking to maximize the injured individual’s potential for full participation in all areas of community life
- Fostering research aimed at preventing spinal cord injury, improving care, reducing consequent disability, and finding a cure for both acute and chronic SCI
- Facilitating communication among members and other physicians, allied health care professionals, researchers and consumers
Paralyzed Veterans of America has been on a mission since 1946 to change lives and build brighter futures for our seriously injured heroes. Our brave men and women to regain fought for Freedom and Independence for everyone. We fight to empower our veterans and give them back their Freedom and Independence.
A band of World War II service members returning home from with spinal cord injuries united to form the Paralyzed Veterans of America. They returned to a grateful nation, but also to a nation unprepared with solutions to the major challenges they faced.
These wounded heroes made a decision not just to live, but to live with dignity as contributors to society. They created Paralyzed Veterans of America as an organization dedicated to serving veterans. Our support for our fellow veterans includes medical research, advocacy and civil rights to help all people with disabilities.
[otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”SCI Info Pages” opened=”closed”]http://www.sci-info-pages.com/
This is a free website providing informative resources for people living with a spinal cord injury, other disabling injuries or diseases of the spine. Designed to be a “best of the web” site for SCI health and caregiver information. Visit regularly for updated resources, news and more.
If you know of something that should be added, such as a good resource site, news, clinical trials, pictures, etc., please contact me.
Originally created as my personal resource. It grew till I decided it was worthy of sharing with others like me (C5/6 Quadriplegic per a diving accident in 1999). Please note that only quality websites and related information are listed here.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”Spinal Cord Injury Information Network” opened=”closed”]http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu/
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System (UAB-SCIMS) maintains this Information Network. This resource promotes knowledge in the areas of research, health and quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries, their families, and SCI-related professionals. Available here is our educational materials and information on research activities of the UAB-SCIMS along with internet links to outside information.
The UAB-SCIMS Information Network is devoted to easier access for useful, up-to-date information from reliable sources. We will continue to add and remove links as needed, so you can get updates via email, facebook or twitter .
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”United Spinal Association” opened=”closed”]United Spinal Association is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). This including everyone; veterans, family providing support and information to loved ones, care providers and professionals.
We believe no person should be excluded from opportunity on the basis of their disability. Our goal is to provide people living with SCI/D programs and services that maximize their independence and enable them to remain active in their communities.
Our Roots
United Spinal was founded in 1946 by a determined group of paralyzed WWII veterans in New York City. They advocated for greater civil rights and independence for themselves and their fellow veterans. Rejecting the poor treatment they received at their local VA hospital, they decided to form a support group. From these modest beginnings, United Spinal was born. Since then, our core belief has remained unchanged. Despite living with SCI/D, a full, productive, and rewarding life is within the reach of anyone. All you need is the strength to believe in yourself and the courage to make it happen.
Today, United Spinal is the largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping people living with SCI/D. Providing active-lifestyle information, peer support and advocacy that empower individuals to achieve their highest potential in all facets of life is our commitment.
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[otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation” opened=”closed”]https://www.christopherreeve.org/
The Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis. Using both professional funding for innovative research and personal funding through grants, information and advocacy.
The Reeve Foundation’s supports a vast range of research programs. Programs span from very basic science (molecular and cellular research) to clinical application (testing and delivering promising therapies to patients). Research dollars can hardly keep up with the momentum that he has ignited.
The Paralysis Resource Center is a free resource. Providing a comprehensive, national source of informational and support for people living with paralysis and their caregivers. Since its inception, the PRC has helped tens of thousands of people living with paralysis access critical resources and information to elevate their quality of life. This is a place to reach out for help, guidance, and support.
The Quality of Life Grants program awards financial support to nonprofit organizations that mirror the Reeve Foundation’s mission. The grants focus on programs or projects that foster community engagement and involvement, while promoting health and wellness for individuals living with paralysis. This support for the disability community has totaled more than $19 million in over 2,500 grants.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”Life Rolls On” opened=”closed”]World champion surfer Jesse Billauer founded Life Rolls On after becoming a quadriplegic. Improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury became his mission.
Believing that adaptive surfing and skating could inspire infinite possibilities beyond paralysis, Life Rolls On began as a splash into the unknown on September 11, 2001. To date, Life Rolls On has literally touched the lives of hundreds of thousands.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”Mike Utley Foundation” opened=”closed”]Paralyzed during a 1991 NFL game, Detroit Lions’ offensive guard Mike Utley (#60) found his life dramatically changed. Mike’s courageous “Thumbs Up” gesture, delivered as he was carried from the field, has come to symbolize his fighting spirit.
Mike took on a new challenge in 1992; helping all people disabled by spinal cord injuries (SCI) by establishing the Mike Utley Foundation. His foundation provides financial support for research, rehabilitation and education for SCI related injuries. The Foundation also offers a variety of financial programs. Patient and family assistance programs, patient equipment, patient and family education and therapeutic recreation for those living with spinal cord injuries.
The mission of the Mike Utley Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, is to financially
- Shepherd an effective function-restoring treatment for spinal cord injuries,
- Education Encouraging the adoption of a rehabilitative lifestyle for people with spinal cord injuries,
- Public awareness of spinal cord injuries.
Contributors support makes our work possible and each contribution is greatly appreciated. Together we are making a difference in the lives of those living with SCI. Providing motivational and emotional support benefits individuals with spinal cord injuries. Plus our dedication to finding a cure for paralysis keeps hope alive.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”Travis Roy Foundation” opened=”closed”]http://www.travisroyfoundation.org/
Inspired by Travis’ own story, The Travis Roy Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the life of individuals with spinal cord injuries and their families. Providing adaptive equipment helps people to achieve more self-reliance and the ability to be as independent as possible. Half of the money raised by the Travis Roy Foundation goes toward Quality of Life grants. These assist in the purchase of adaptive equipment to help paraplegics and quadriplegics live their lives.
The Foundation has also awarded over two million dollars in research grants. Part of our dedication to finding a cure through increased research funding. We are working towards a better future for everyone with SCI.
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