| |  | 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: -
Meet Molly Sebo, Our New Executive Director! -
Get Your Gala Tickets! -
Upcoming Events! Saturday Education Series, Red Sox Game -
Looking to Connect with a Peer Mentor? Watch Our Peer-to-Peer Video! - March Advocacy Update
- SCIboston Grant Program
- SCI Transition Program
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SCIboston YouTube -
Support Groups *New Group* For Younger Adults -
For Sale/Donations *NEW ITEMS* - Community Tidbits - ReelAbilities and Model Systems
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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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| | Molly Sebo
Executive Director Please join us in welcoming Molly Sebo as the SCIboston Executive Director, drawing on nearly three decades of experience as a physical therapist, case manager, and clinical specialist for individuals with spinal cord injuries, both locally at Boston Medical Center and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital [SRH] and internationally in London and Melbourne. In addition to providing direct services to patients, Molly has supported positive outcomes for the Spinal Cord Injury community through her teaching, leading, and research. For over a decade, Molly has served as co-lead for the spinal cord injury outpatient clinician team at SRH. Molly has been a Spaulding-Harvard New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center community advisory board member and she served as a member of the SCI Consortium at Mass General Brigham [MGB]. She has used her knowledge and experience to further the expertise of others in the field through teaching SCI lectures and labs at Boston University. She has committed to further understanding in the field as a research assistant at the MGB Exercise for People with Disabilities (EXPD) and as a researcher for Christopher and Dana Reeves Neurorecovery Network 2006-2012. Through non-profit work and fundraising, Molly has committed to ongoing opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injuries to participate more fully in their community. As a former volunteer with Health Volunteers Overseas, Molly worked with people with tuberculosis of the spine resulting in SCI in Umtata, South Africa. Molly has chaired fund-raisers to support the SCI community, and in 2023, Molly was instrumental in developing the proposal for the Greater Boston YMCA adaptive fitness programming which resulted in a significant grant. Molly currently serves as a consultant for the developing program. |
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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. Click the HERE to watch a video from our Peer Mentors! |
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| |  This month's advocacy update includes a report from BCBS on Estate Recovery, a summary of the MassHealth PCA program budget cut and rally, news from RTAG and the National Commission on Disability, and a number of advocacy related events and opportunities! Take our Advocacy Survey
Click the link to
Read Our 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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| 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: *Karman Manual Wheelchair* *2 different Standing Machines* 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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| | | | | | Did you miss a newsletter? All our past newsletters can be found here: |
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| SCIboston
2 Rehabilitation Way | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801
(617) 952-5643 | info@sciboston.org |
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