| |  | | Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging (DEIAB) statement can be found here. |
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| In this newsletter, you will find: - Saturday Education Series: White Nine Documentary
- Boston Marathon - CONGRATS JACKIE!
- TR24 Legacy Wiffleball Tournament
- SCIboston's Travis Roy Legacy Grant Program
- SCI Awareness Day at Fenway *GET YOUR TICKETS*
- Advocacy Update
- Peer Mentor Spotlight - Stefan
- Looking to Connect with a Peer Mentor?
- Thank You To Our Sponsors
- The Steven F. Riley Educational Memorial Scholarship
- *NEW VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP*
- SCIboston's SCI Transition Program - Do You Know Someone In A Nursing Home?
- Follow Us On Social Media!
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| |  | |  | Interested in Captaining a team? SCIboston is looking for team captains to lead teams of ten players. This fun and competitive tournament raises funds for our Travis Roy Legacy Grant Program which provides Quality of Life grants to individuals living with spinal cord injuries. Contact Molly at [email protected] or register as a captain here! Volunteers Needed: TR24 Legacy Wiffleball Planning Committee SCIboston is seeking volunteers to join the TR24 Legacy Wiffleball Tournament Planning Committee for the 2026 tournament on June 27 in Essex Junction, Vermont, at Little Fenway. Committee members help with event planning, logistics, outreach, and day-of coordination. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to get involved behind the scenes, we’d love to have you join us in honoring Travis Roy’s legacy and supporting the SCI community. Contact Molly at [email protected] to learn more. |
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| SCIboston's Travis Roy Legacy 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 $5,000. 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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| |  Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 2:00pm - 4:00pm Location: Over Zoom and at State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 5. May 4th 9am, MassHealth Hearing: (You can also watch the meeting without testifying: To join the hearing online, go directly to the 130 CMR 422.000 webinar link. Alternatively, go to the main Zoom meeting page and enter meeting ID 957 3540 6337 and passcode 344221. To join the hearing by phone, call (646) 931-3860 and enter meeting ID 957 3540 6337# when prompted. There will be a remote MassHealth public hearing on May 4th at 9am. This hearing will be about proposed amendments to the PCA program. The proposed amendments are: 1. Limit the number of weekly hours that a PCA may work to 60 hours or less. (The current limit is 66 hours) 2. Reduce the number of hours allowed for meal preparation to a maximum of 7 hours per week (unless there is documentation of a medical necessity for more time, and I was told in a meeting with MassHealth that the only medical necessity they were approving was for people who needed their food blended due to difficulty swallowing). The current limit is 13 hours a week. You may also submit written testimony to masshealthpublicnotice@mass.gov as an attached Word or PDF document, or as text in the body of the email with the name of the regulation in the subject line. Regulation name is: 130 CMR 422.000: Personal Care Attendant Services. All written testimony must include the sender’s full name, mailing address, and organization or affiliation, if any. Written testimony must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Monday, May 4th, 2026. You may also submit written testimony by mail to EOHHS, c/o D. Briggs, 100 Hancock Street, 6th Floor, Quincy, MA 02171. Accommodation requests may be directed to the Disability Accommodations Ombudsman by email at [email protected] or by phone at (617) 8473468 (TTY: (617) 847-3788). Please allow two weeks to schedule sign language interpreters. |
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| Name: Stefan Injury Level: C7 Incomplete Year of Injury: 2018 Stefan was 19 at the time of his injury that was sustained from a fall. Post-injury, he went back to school where he currently studies psychology. He enjoys adaptive recreational sports, going to concerts, and hanging out with friends and family. Stefan enjoys being with his dog, who coincidentally also has an SCI. Stefan is incredibly kind and compassionate and you can see that through his social media which highlights his journey. Check out his blog on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/stefans_milestones/ |
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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. SCIboston Peer Mentors have completed SCIboston and United Spinal Association Peer Training Program, completed HIPPA training, passed background checks, and are, in many cases, certified Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital volunteers. If you'd like to hear more about the program or wish to connect with someone, please contact SCIboston's Peer Mentor Coordinator, Diane, at [email protected] to learn more today. To learn more about our Peer Mentor program click here to watch our Saturday Education Series about it. |
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| The Steven F. Riley Memorial Educational Scholarship SCIboston is proud to offer the Steven F. Riley Memorial Educational Scholarship, created to support individuals with spinal cord injuries as they pursue educational and professional goals. This scholarship honors Steve Riley’s legacy by investing in opportunity, independence, and lifelong learning. Funds may be used for tuition, books, certification programs, or other education-related expenses that help recipients move forward with confidence. Thanks to the generosity of Linda (our spotlighted Peer Mentor below) and Stacey Riley, this opportunity has been created in Steven’s memory and offered through SCIboston to honor his perseverance and compassion. Apply here — https://www.sciboston.org/sfreducationalscholarship |
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| New Virtual Support Group! We are pleased to announce the addition of a new SCIboston Virtual Support Group! Our "new" Newly Injured Support Group meets on Tuesdays from 4:00–5:00 PM. This group is specifically for individuals who are within the first three years of a spinal cord injury. We are thrilled that Josh Keller (C4 incomplete SCI) will facilitate this group, in addition to his role as Thursday Support Group Leader. As SCIboston continues to grow and reach more individuals throughout New England, we remain committed to evaluating and meeting the needs of our expanding community by creating additional opportunities for connection and support. We hope this additional group will help make space for new attendees. Please note the following updates: - The Tuesday Newly Injured Support Group has begun and meets Tuesdays from 4:00–5:00 PM.
- The former Wednesday “Newly Injured Group” is now open to individuals at any stage of their spinal cord injury.
- The Thursday SCI Support Group will remain unchanged.
We encourage you to review the updated group descriptions (click the button below) to determine which group best fits your needs. Also, check out SCIboston's Facebook Group: SCIboston has a Private Facebook Group for members of our community to stay connected and engaged with one another. You can also post items for sale and share local events. Here is the link to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3404016333192937 Please let us know if you have any questions and how we can best support you! |
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|  | Watch Stacie and Rory tell their story at our 2024 Gala HERE. |
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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 two years and we want to continue helping individuals with their 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 [email protected] for more information or to recommend a candidate. |
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| We rely on donations, sponsorships, and grants to sustain our peer programs. If SCIboston has made a difference in your life or in the life of someone you love, please consider supporting us so we can continue helping others just as we were able to help you. Please consider - donating. You can also choose to make a one-time donation or make recurring donations. You can also check with your employer to see if they match donations.
- starting a Facebook and Instagram fundraiser for SCIboston. It is simple to set up and allows your followers to contribute easily. Holding a birthday fundraiser is a great way to give back and raise awareness.
- sponsoring one of our upcoming events! This is a great way to support our programs while getting some advertising for your business or organization. Sponsor our 2026 Gala here!
- volunteering. We are always looking for volunteers to support our social and fundraising events. We are also looking for help with various administrative tasks. Reach out to [email protected] to learn more!
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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| | 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 | [email protected] |
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