| |  | Friend, Did you know that the Greater Boston Chapter has more than two dozen Peer Mentors that are experienced, trained volunteers who either have a spinal cord injury or disorder or are family members or partners of someone who has an injury. Our Peer Mentors are the reason why the GBC is able to provide such exceptional support to the SCI/D community. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, our Peer Mentors have not slowed down. In fact, they have increased their involvement in our virtual programming, which includes support groups and one-on-one mentoring with current patients, people living in the community, and family members of those who have injuries. I would like to take a moment to express my deep appreciation to all of our peer mentors for their dedication to helping the SCI/D community! I would also like to thank Jessika Coromel, the GBC's Peer Mentor Coordinator, for making the program possible! If you have not done so already, please visit our webpage to see all of our peer mentors' profiles. Do not hesitate to reach out to Jessika or a mentor if you or a loved one need support. We still have KN95 masks to distribute to our members in need. Due to the limited amount of masks received, individuals will be provided masks on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to receive free KN95 masks from our Chapter, please email us at info@sciboston.org with the subject line "Masks" and include the following information: First & Last Name of Person with SCI Mailing Address Phone # Injury Level Date of Injury Please allow a minimum of one week to receive your masks. You can also request masks through the BCIL here! We hope you all stay safe and healthy! Sincerely, Heather Wood
Chapter Coordinator
(617) 952-5643 Ryan DeRoche
Digital Media Coordinator
ryan@sciboston.org In this newsletter: Upcoming Events: | | | We do not, and have never, charged for our services. We rely on donations, sponsors and grants to fund our peer programs. If we made a difference in your life or that of someone you love, consider a gift to allow us to continue to assist others as we assisted you. | | | | | |  | | | Attention!! We have switched to a new email address! For many years we have used AOL services and for various reasons we have been exploring other options. We switched to G-Suite for Nonprofits in January and are excited to use the tools Google offers. We ask that you add our new email to your address book, because all of our future emails will come from info@sciboston.org. | | | | | | Advocacy Chris Hoeh's Full Monthly Update: Click Here! For Those that use the MBTA If you travel via MBTA bus, subway or commuter rail, and have a disability, the MBTA System-Wide Accessibility staff want to know you exist so they can ask you about your experience. Please email SWA@mbta.com Click here for MBTA COVID-19 updates. Click here to plan an accessible trip on the MBTA. Click here for their Accessibility guides. Click here for alerts about accessibility issues (e.g., elevators out of order). You can also sign up there to receive service alerts, via email or text, about any aspect of service you care about-- specific routes, accessibility, etc. Mail-in voting The best way to Advocate is to vote! Here is a great article on mail-in voting. Virtual Advocacy Series Join United Spinal Association for their 3-part Virtual Advocacy Series in June and July to discuss the challenges of, lessons learned from and disability rights impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, check our lasts months Zoom meeting about COVID-19. Among the guest speakers is our very own Chapter Advocacy Representative, Chris Hoeh! Click here for more info! | | | | A Good Read GBC Blog: "Boys" The following story is based on actual events in Tony’s (aka Bone's) life. **Warning: This entry contains some adult language. Summer Night 1987 Midnight hung heavy in the diminished dimensions of this room which contained his life and confined his form. The grit of sand beneath a silenced footstep screeched. "Is someone there!?" he asked, startled from a half sleep. The sound of someone else's breathing was the only reply… Continue Reading | | | | | |  | Virtual Spinal Rap Topic: An open discussion about life with spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D).
When: Every Thursday, 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Link: Use the same link and
login information every week!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86026942288?pwd=
dE5qZTV5dUZ3YUZrbm1BdzE4b3E5UT09
Meeting ID: 860 2694 2288
Password: 531046
Dial by your location:
+1 312 626 6799, US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099, US (New York) | | | Virtual Family Social Hour Topic: An open discussion about life with spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D) from the family's/friend's/caregiver's point of view.
When: Every Thursday, 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Link: Use the same link and
login information every week!
https://partners.zoom.us/j/96785237098
Meeting ID: 967 8523 7098
Dial by your location:
+1 312 626 6799, US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923, US (New York) | | | | | | Significant Other's Virtual Discussion Group Topic: An open discussion about life with spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D) from a significant other's point of view.
When: Every Tuesday, 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Link: Use the same link and login information every week!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86285443842?pwd=SmVUdXgrbCtiRm5xSU1KdzRLajdXQT09
Meeting ID: 862 8544 3842 Password: 473243
Dial by your location:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) | | | | | Newly Injured Virtual Discussion Group Topic: An open discussion about being newly injured and life with spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D).
When: Every Wednesday, 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Link: Use the same link and login information every week!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85058002526?pwd=TUZzQUY5SVhDUG5hbnBKWGs4S0YrZz09
Meeting ID: 850 5800 2526
Password: 290281
One tap mobile:
+13126266799 US (Chicago)
+19292056099 US (New York) | | | | | | Grupo de Apoyo Español Qué: Una discusión abierta sobre todo lo relacionado con la vida con lesiones y trastornos de la médula espinal (LME/D).
Quién: Invitamos a todos los que viven con una LME/D a sus familiares y amigos a que participen. Todos los viernes a las 4:30 p. M.
Zoom enlace de reunión: ¡use el mismo enlace e información de inicio de sesión todas las semanas! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83060834598?pwd=L0RjYUFyWlJWbk1MQldRY3ZJZGJIZz09
ID de la reunión: 830 6083 4598
Contraseña: 860470
Número de teléfono: +13017158592 | | | | | Women's Virtual Discussion Group Topic: An open discussion about life with spinal cord injury from a women’s point of view.
When: Every Monday, 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Link (Same every week):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85287714006?pwd=aUNnenhtVElaVmRzdlVJaWFWVDc3dz09
Meeting ID: 852 8771 4006
Password: 790905
One tap mobile: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
| | | | | | | | Rental Opportunity  A great opportunity for accessible housing at Halstead Salem Station in Salem, MA! Handicap housing lottery in Salem! Application deadline June 14th, 2020 click here for more details. | | | | | | For Sale! Do you have Durable Medical Equipment, Assitive Technology, Adapted Vehicles or an Accessible Home for sale? Send us pictures and information about the item(s) to info@sciboston.org and we will post it on our website and social media. *PLEASE NOTE WE ARE NOT THE SELLER AND DO NOT HAVE POSSESSION OF THE ITEMS. WE PURELY POST ITEMS TO CONNECT SELLERS WITH INTERESTED BUYERS. "It's a Duet Basic Bicycle (without power assist) for sale. I'm asking $2000 firm for it, and it retails between $6000 and $8000. I just put new tires on it. Pickup is in Boston or Brookline." Please email us with your contact information and we will share it with the seller. | |  | 2014 MV-1 LX Great wheelchair SUV! More storage room, head room, and maneuverability than mini-vans. Short and long ramp options. Buttons for ramp are accessible from both inside and outside. Luxury edition, black leather interior, new radio with Bluetooth. ONLY TWO OWNERS, selling in order to get a van with hand controls. Low miles, 23,500. Driven in Boston and Connecticut. Serviced at Herb Chambers Burlington, records available. Oil changes every 5k. Comfortable bench seat for three additional passengers besides driver and wheelchair. Lots of storage space, including tow hitch. Please email us with your contact information and we will share it with the seller. | | | | | | Tom's Permobil chair C-500 Permobil wheelchair 21" front to back 19" side to side. He wants to donate. Interested party needs to pick it up from donor's house. All it needs is batteries. Please email us with your contact information and we will share it with the seller. | |  | | | Greater Boston Chapter of United Spinal Association
2 Rehabilitation Way | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801
(617) 952-5643 | info@sciboston.org | | | | | | | | | | | |
