| |  | | Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging (DEIAB) statement can be found here. |
| | 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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| In this newsletter, you will find: - The Steven F. Riley Educational Memorial Scholarship
- September Event Recaps
- SCI Awareness Day at the State House
- SCI Awareness on Our Social Media
- Upcoming SCIboston Events
- Saturday Education Series: MA Personal Care Attendant Program
- SAVE THE DATE! SCIboston's Friendsgiving
- Advocacy Update
- Peer Mentor Spotlight - Jack
- Virtual Support Groups
- SCIboston's Travis Roy Legacy Grant Program
- Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters
- SCI Transition Program - Do You Know Someone In A Nursing Home?
- Resources
- Community Tidbits : Knobby Tire Ride and Roll - Adaptive Mountain Biking
- SCI Awareness Month Posts
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| Este correo electrónico se puede traducir al español o al portugués utilizando el traductor de su cliente de correo electrónico, que se encuentra en la configuración de su correo electrónico. Si necesita más ayuda, podemos traducirlo por usted. Escríbanos a info@sciboston.org. |
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| Due to the length, some email providers may cut off some of this newsletter's content.
We recommend viewing it in your web browser for optimal reading. |
| | The Steven F. Riley Educational Memorial Scholarship Applications are now open for the first Steven F. Riley Educational Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded in January 2026. Thanks to the generosity of Linda and Stacey Riley, this opportunity has been created in Steven’s memory and offered through SCIboston to honor his perseverance and compassion. The scholarship supports individuals living with paraplegia or quadriplegia/tetraplegia due to spinal cord injury or disorder. Beginning in 2026, two scholarships will be awarded each year—one in the Fall and one in the Spring semester—to help recipients pursue higher education or certified training. The deadline for this first round of applications is October 31, 2025. For full details, eligibility, and application, click here. |
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| | SCI AWARENESS MONTH RECAP |
| SCI Awareness Day at the State House Recap This year’s SCI Awareness Day at the State House was a tremendous success! Nearly 75 community members, researchers, clinicians, and legislators gathered for SCI Awareness Day at the Statehouse. The new room, 428, provided an intimate setting for speakers to present their work, share powerful stories, and connect with the community. The event featured five researchers who are current recipients of grant funding from the Thomas Kennedy Trust Fund, two speakers with lived experience in the SCI community, Senator Michael Brady, and, of course, Dr. Eric Ruby. We learned about exciting advancements in spinal cord injury research—from how successful nerve transfers are improving quality of life for individuals with paralysis, to how artificial intelligence is helping us better understand blood pressure regulation and spinal cord regeneration. For the first time, SCI Awareness Day also included a dedicated networking session. Clinicians, legislators, researchers, and individuals living with SCI had a valuable opportunity to connect and collaborate. The energy in the room was palpable, leaving everyone with renewed hope for the future of SCI research and funding. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Dr. Eric Ruby, whose leadership over the past 20+ years has been instrumental in advancing the quality of life for those living with spinal cord injuries. We’re also incredibly grateful to all of our speakers: - Welcome & Introduction - Eric J. Ruby, M.D. – Massachusetts Walks Again
- Proclamation 2025 Recipient: Senator Michael Brady
- Sponsor: Senator Michael Brady
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Data - Kelley Cunningham, Jeanne Hathaway
- Research Grant Presentations:
- Jeffrey D. Macklis, M.D., D.Sc. – Harvard University, Speaker:Mariale Vicent, M.D., Ph.D. – Dr. Macklis’s Lab
- Ted D. Teng, Ph.D., M.S., M.D. – PM&R/HMS/SRH/MGB, Speaker: Justin M. Brown, M.D. – Paralysis Center, MGH
- Zhigang He, Ph.D., B.M. – Boston Children’s Hospital, Speaker: Jason Biundo – Ph.D. Student, Harvard Medical School
- Speaker: Andrew T. Reisner, M.D. – MGH
- Speaker: Christopher V. Gabel, Ph.D. – BU School of Medicine
- Chloe Slocum, MD, MPH – Director of Health Policy, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- David Estrada – SRN Research and DEIA Disability Program Manager
- Closing Remarks - Eric J. Ruby, M.D.
To view the full DPH spinal cord injury in Massachusetts slideshow, click here Lastly, we’d love your feedback! To help us improve and plan an even better event next year, please take a few minutes to fill out our short survey:
 SCI Awareness Day Survey 🎥 To watch the full video, click the video thumbnail below. We’ll also be sharing it on our YouTube channel and social media next week. Please note: this video is for private viewing only at this time. Please do not share. Thank you for respecting this request. |
|  | | SCI Awareness on Social Media Our Social Media Coordinator, Thalita, has been busy posting informative and fun posts to raise awareness about spinal cord injury this past month. Follow us on all of our socials (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube) so that you don't miss a thing! If you are an individual living with an SCI or a family member or caregiver of someone with an SCI, you can join our private Facebook Group here! And if you are not on social media, Thalita spent time this month engaging with our community to ask pertinent questions about living with a spinal cord injury. Scroll to the bottom of the Newsletter to see her Break the Stigma social media posts for SCI Awareness Month! We also did our first collab with Peer Mentor, support group leader, and social media influencer, Josh Keller! Josh took us through a typical Thursday for him as he prepared to lead SCIboston's Thursday SCI Support Group. His blog is insightful, honest, and a really good read. Here's a snippet: Morning Routine At 7 AM my wife’s alarm clock goes off and our day begins. The bulk of Kass’s caregiving work happens in the morning and at night. She helps me catheterize while I’m turned on my side. She then leaves to feed the dogs and let them outside. After making her coffee, she comes back in to help me transfer using a SureHands ceiling lift into my shower wheelchair. Read his full blog here!  |
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| | Upcoming Events! Flyers are Clickable |
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| |  Are you ready to vote? Municipal elections are your chance to vote for Mayors, Managers, City Councilors, Select Boards, School Committee Members, etc – all of your locally elected officials. For most cities in Massachusetts, these elections will be held on Tuesday, November 4th. Not sure if your municipality is holding an election? Click here for a list of upcoming elections. Make sure you register to vote by October 25th – which, for Boston and Worcester voters, is also the day early voting begins. Check your polling location to make sure it’s accessible, if it’s not, contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Elections Division at 1-800-462-VOTE (8683) or elections@sec.state.ma.us. The Massachusetts Office on Disability has a full list of accessibility requirements and rights as a voter with a disability, including a right to accessible voting registration and polling places, have your service animal accompany you inside, and assistance from a person of your choice. Did you know that voters with a disability that affects their ability to mark a paper ballot can request an accessible vote by mail ballot? The accessible electronic vote by mail system allows voters to independently and privately submit their ballot via a secure electronic delivery system using a computer or mobile device. Once marked, the ballot can either be returned electronically, or printed and mailed. See accessible vote by mail ballot for information on applying for a mail-in ballot. Prefer to vote in person? Every polling location in Massachusetts is required to have at least one AutoMARK machine that is accessible to voters who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. This machine can assist you in independently marking your ballot, and features a touch screen and keypad to make selections. Once marked, the AutoMARK prints your ballot for submission. The AutoMARK also has ports for sip and puff or foot pedal assistive devices, if you would like to bring your own. Visit the Secretary’s Elections Division webpage for voters with disabilities for more information. Save the Date! Join the Disability Policy Consortium at the Massachusetts State House for Wheelchair Repair Advocacy Day on October 9th, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. This is an opportunity to share your experiences with waiting for wheelchair repairs with members of the House Ways & Means Committee. In order for legislators to understand the impact of repair delays, they need to hear your stories. Please RSVP here! Survey Opportunity! The United Spinal Association is collecting information from the community to improve advocacy efforts, research initiatives, and grant programs, and are seeking ideas for new programming. Click here to take the Community Survey. Share your story! Are hotel rooms accessible for people who use wheelchairs? NPR wants to hear from you. Click here to share your story. As always, click here to sign up for Advocacy Updates directly to your inbox! |
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| Mentor Spotlight Name: Jack Injury Level: C4-7 Complete Year of Injury: 2016 Jack sustained his injury from a swimming accident at the age of 18. Since his injury, he has focused on going back to college, working out, and gaining back his independence. Jack graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Business Administration. He enjoys recreational hobbies such as hand cycling, RC drones, sightseeing, and strolls in nature. |
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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 diane@sciboston.org 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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| | Update to SCIboston’s Support Groups: As part of our ongoing effort to strengthen and better serve our local community, SCIboston will be limiting participation in our virtual support groups—with the exception of the Nutrition Group—to residents of New England (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut). SCIboston’s mission is to Reach, Inspire, Support, and Empower individuals living with spinal cord injuries across Massachusetts and New England. Our virtual support groups have become a cornerstone of that mission, offering meaningful connection, community, and support. Originally expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to reach individuals in new ways, these groups have since grown into a vital and enduring part of our programming. As we continue to evolve, we’ve recognized the importance of focusing our support group efforts on individuals and families within our service region. This allows us to direct resources more effectively and foster deeper regional connections among participants. The Nutrition Group will remain open to all participants, regardless of location. We want to emphasize that current participants who reside outside of New England are warmly welcomed and encouraged to continue attending. Your presence and contributions have become an essential part of the SCIboston community. The relationships we've built together are deeply valued, and we look forward to your continued involvement. If you have any questions regarding support groups please reach out to heidi@sciboston.org Virtual Support Groups Join us for any of SCIboston’s virtual support groups that meet your needs as an individual or family member impacted by a spinal cord injury or disorder. Our support groups offer opportunities for questions, open discussion, support, resources, and more. All of our facilitators are trained SCIboston Peer Mentors who are there to structure the meeting, guide conversation, and help meet the needs of attendees. We want our attendees to feel comfortable and know that any level of participation is welcomed, even if you would just like to listen. No need to RSVP, meeting links are the same each week. Younger Adult Group Women's Group Newly Injured Spanish Group Family Groups SCI/D Discussion Group And Nutrition Group Click the button to access more information and the zoom links! |
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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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| Thank You To Our Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors A Special Thank You to Our Supporters |
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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 info@sciboston.org for more information or to recommend a candidate. |
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| Resources Page 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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| | | Knobby Tire Ride and Roll Where: Harold Parker State Forest
Campground
Andover, MA
When: October 26, 2025 Off-road adaptive cycling
opportunities for all.
Not everyone has the knowledge or equipment to
get out into the woods and on adaptive mountain
bikes. The Knobby Tire Ride and Roll brings
people together for one cause: to get people
outside, accessing trails, no matter their ability
level.
This event is open to people of all abilities, with
group rides for beginners, adaptive equipment
and instruction for those with physical limitations,
and marked trails for experienced riders.
We hope you can join us and hundreds of other
mountain bikers at the Wicked Ride of the East,
hosted by the North Shore Chapter of New
England Mountain Bike Association. Bikes are limited. Contact us ASAP! More Info: knobby-tire.squarespace.com
Contact: Carrie Callahan at
ccallahan@empowersci.org |
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| | SCI Awareness Month Posts |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | | | 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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