| |  | Chapter Name Change In April 2023 we announced that we have transitioned our Chapter’s name from the Greater Boston Chapter of United Spinal Association, to SCIboston. We will continue to be a chapter of United Spinal Association and offer the same support and services to individuals and families impacted by spinal cord injury in Massachusetts and the New England area. We are making the change to simplify and shorten our name and to be consistent with our website, social media and email addresses. |
| Thank You to Our Supporters |
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| In this newsletter you will find:OK Google -
Upcoming Events - Gala Save The Date and Advocacy Events! -
SCIboston Advocacy Coordinator - Advocacy Update
- SCIboston Grant Program
- SCI Transition Program
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Looking to Connect with a Peer Mentor? -
SCIboston YouTube *New Video!* - Adaptive Sports & Local Fitness Programs -
Support Groups *New Group* For Younger Adults -
For Sale/Donations *Updated Items* -
A Good Read - Independence Through Art -
SCI Health and Wellness Research Opportunity -
Helpful Resources |
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| 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 donation to allow us to continue to assist others as we assisted you. SCIboston is recognized by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. |
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| | |  | | | U.S. Access Board Webinar: Sporting: The Spectator’s Experience: Thursday, January 4 from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (ET, online) Register here. The U.S. Access Board provides a monthly webinar, called AccessibilityOnline, providing education and information a variety of topics. January's topic is all about accessibility at sporting events. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Standards contain specific accessibility requirements to ensure inclusion for all spectators.
All webinars include video remote interpreting (VRI) and real-time captioning. |
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 | United Spinal's Care Support Webinar: Tuesday, January 30th, 2024 4:00-5:15 p.m. (ET, online) Register here. This webinar will be about finding, hiring, training and maintaining caregivers. You will hear from advocates on how to navigate the caregiving crisis and how they manage their own care, as well as, from caregivers on what they need to care for their clients. |
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| SCIboston Advocacy Coordinator SCIboston would like to introduce the newest member of our team, Vita Brown. Vita is the new SCIboston
Advocacy Coordinator and will be working on key legislative issues and initiatives that impact the SCI community. Vita will work on coalition building and community outreach and engagement. See below for weekly advocacy events you can learn about and get involved in! For more information or questions, contact Vita at vita@sciboston.org. |
|  This month's advocacy update includes a call to action on local and national legislation, updates on accessibility on the MBTA, news from RTAG, and a number of advocacy related events!
Express support for Wheelchair Warranty and Repair! Find your local legislator here. Then send them an email expressing your support. Template found here.
Click the link to
Read The Full Advocacy Update Interested in getting notifications about our advocacy efforts or being an advocate on the state or national level? |
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| SCIboston's Back2RI Grant Program Our Grant Program assists individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury or Disorder (SCI/D) who demonstrate a financial need. These grants can help assist with obtaining either Durable Medical Equipment or Vehicle Modifications up to $4,000. Examples of Eligible Items: Upgrade and maintenance of wheelchairs, home ramps and lifts, computers, commodes, standing frames, shower chairs/benches, vehicle hand controls, wheelchair locking systems, and more. To learn more about the eligibility requirements, what our grants cover, and to fill out the application click the button below! |
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| Spinal Cord Injury Transition Program Stacie Selfridge - TRANSITION PROGRAM LIAISON Stacie oversees SCIboston’s SCI Transition Program, which aims to assist individuals who live in nursing homes to get back to living independently. Stacie brings twenty-plus years of knowledge and experience as an Occupational Therapist to our SCIboston community. We are pleased to announce the SCIboston Spinal Cord Injury Transition Program has had some great successes during it's first year and a half and we want to continue helping individuals with there independence. Do you know someone with an SCI that is living in a nursing home? We are looking for new candidates who are motivated to move back into the community. Please contact info@sciboston.org for more information or to recommend a candidate. |
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| Looking to Connect with a Peer Mentor? Are you or a family member looking to connect with one of SCIboston's trained peer mentors? Many people find it helpful, reassuring, and hopeful to talk to a mentor about adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury. Topics of conversation could include getting back to work or school after a sci, adaptive sports, relationships and intimacy, bladder and bowel management, and more. We match individuals with peer mentors based primarily on gender, injury level, age, interests, and family life, amongst other considerations. SCIboston's mentors also lead many of our virtual support groups, as well as attend them to provide support to others. If you'd like to hear more about the program or wish to connect with someone, please contact SCIboston's Peer Mentor Coordinator, Jessika, at jcoromel@partners.org to learn more today. |
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| Our YouTube Channel Have you missed one of our recent Saturday Education Series Presentations or one of our virtual community events? Did you know that we upload them to our YouTube channel? We have presentations on: Spaulding Adaptive Sports & Boston Area Fitness Programs Hollister Products and Insurance Reimbursement Nutrition and Metabolic Changes with SCI/D Cooking with Arash Returning to School After SCI Adaptive Driving SCI Awareness Month Playlist And so much more! Click the button below to check them all out! |
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Virtual Support Groups Join us for one or more of our virtual support groups that meet your needs as an individual, family member, or significant other affected by a spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D). Our many virtual groups offer opportunities for open discussion, support, and resources. Younger Adult Group Women's Group Newly Injured Spanish Group After Dark Groups Family Groups SCI/D Discussion Group And many more! Click the button to access more information and the zoom links! |
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| For Sale/Donated Are you looking for or do you have Durable Medical Equipment, Assistive Technology, Adapted Vehicles or an Accessible Home for sale or donation? This month we have: Adapted Silverware (New) Custom Offroad Wheelchair Wheelchair Hitch Carrier Kia Soul Ramp Vehicle Duet Basic Bicycle And so much more! Click the button below to check them all out or submit your item! |
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Resources Our resource page was curated by our staff with information provided by our mentors, group leaders, and other members of the SCI community that includes information about: Caregivers Getting Back to Work Housing, Sports & Recreation Complex Rehab Technology Transportation and so much more! Click the button below to check them all out! |
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| A Good Read Independence Through Art
The Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists January 1, 2024
Cheryl Angelelli Mariam Paré always knew she wanted to be an artist. In 1996, she was on the path to achieving her dream, enrolled as a 20-year-old art major at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, when she was shot in a random act of gun violence. The bullet struck her in the neck, instantly rendering the tools of her trade — her hands — useless. “In the beginning, I thought my life was over. I thought as a quadriplegic, I’d be lucky if I could feed myself,” she says, “so painting was not even on my radar.” It wasn’t until she held a pencil in her mouth to write her name that Paré could begin to reimagine her life as an artist. “I was surprised,” she says. “My signature looked the same as I would have written it with my hand, and that made me think, OK, I just might be able to paint as well with my mouth, too.” Continue reading the New Mobility article here |
| |  | | | Did you miss a newsletter? All our past newsletters can be found here: |
| | | | | SCIboston
2 Rehabilitation Way | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801
(617) 952-5643 | info@sciboston.org |
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| SCIboston
2 Rehabilitation Way | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801
(617) 952-5643 | info@sciboston.org |
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