| | | | Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging (DEIAB) statement can be found here. |
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| In this newsletter, you will find: - SCIboston is Hiring!
- Hockey Making a Difference
- SCI Awareness Day at Fenway Recap
- Upcoming Events
- *NEW BIPOC Support Group*
- White Nine Film Screening
- *UPDATE* The Steven F. Riley Educational Memorial Scholarship
- Testimonial Statement Request
- Advocacy News and SCI Awareness Day at the State House Recap
- Peer Mentor Spotlight - Mary C.
- Looking to Connect with a Peer Mentor?
- Thank You To Our Sponsors
- Travis Roy Legacy Grant Program
- SCIboston's SCI Transition Program - Do You Know Someone In A Nursing Home?
- Ways You Can Contribute to SCIboston
- *United Spinal Special Offers: Whirlpool and Betterhelp Discounts*
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| | SCIboston Is Hiring: Director of Development SCIboston is excited to announce that we are seeking a Director of Development to join our growing team. This new position will play a key role in strengthening and expanding our fundraising efforts, building relationships with donors and community partners, and helping ensure the long-term sustainability of our programs. We are looking for an experienced, relationship-driven development professional who is inspired by our mission and excited to help SCIboston grow its impact throughout the spinal cord injury community. Know someone who might be a great fit? We encourage you to share this opportunity with your network. For the full job description and application, click here! |
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| | Hockey Making a Difference  SCIboston is grateful to have received $81,553.61 through the NHL Foundation US’s 2026 Go Forward! initiative to support our Travis Roy Legacy Grant Program. This funding will help people living with spinal cord injuries obtain essential equipment and home modifications that increase independence and improve daily life. Thank you to the NHL Foundation, Scott Litner, and the players, sponsors, and supporters who continue to honor Travis Roy’s legacy through the power of hockey. Read the press release below to learn more. To read the full press release, click here! |
| Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day
at Fenway Recap What an amazing evening we spent at Fenway for Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day 2026, enjoying each other's company and raising awareness of SCI! Despite the rain delays, over 100 people joined us to spread awareness while rooting on the Red Sox for their 4-1 victory over the KC Royals! Congratulations again to Kristin McCosh on being the game's Leader of the Pack, and Keelan Zenion for being honored in the Hats off to Heroes portion of the game. Shoutout to Thomas E. Smith Foundation for collaborating with us and sharing a community table, bringing awareness of our mission to serve those affected by SCI. To see the awesome recap reel, click here. We are excited that the Red Sox have made it to the playoffs! We can't wait for next year, when we get to do it again! Thank you, Mary Cooper, for all your work to make this event so special for all. And thank you to all the volunteers; without your help, these events wouldn't be possible. |
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| | | | Announcing SCIboston’s New Monthly Support Group starting Friday, September 25th, 6pm-7pm EMPOWERING disABILITY is a monthly* virtual support group for Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, and other people of color living with spinal cord injuries throughout New England. This group provides a welcoming and supportive space centered on connection, representation, and the lived experiences of racially and ethnically diverse members of the SCI community. Together, members support one another in navigating life with SCI while promoting independence, personal growth, and quality of life. Led by SCIboston Peer Mentors, Chris Johnson and Sindy Cruz
*Fall 2026 monthly sessions will meet on the following dates:
Friday, September 25th, 6pm-7pm
Sunday, October 25th, 6pm-7pm
Wednesday, November 18th, 6pm-7pm
Friday, December 18th, 6pm-7pm Join Zoom Meeting: HERE
Meeting ID: 842 5673 9828 | Passcode: 345258 | Phone in Number: 929-205-6099 |
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Virtual Support Groups Join the SCIboston community for one of our many virtual support groups designed to meet the needs of individuals with an SCI (spinal cord injury) and for family members impacted by SCI. Our groups are safe and supportive spaces for our members to connect with others, ask questions, share experiences, and empower one another to reach their goals. Each group is led by an experienced SCIboston Peer Mentor whose role is to structure the meeting by facilitating introductions, meaningful topics, and open discussions. No need to RSVP-meeting links are the same each week. SCIboston support groups (with the exception of the Nutrition Group) are open to individuals and family members living in New England. If you are looking for support groups outside of the New England area, please visit www.unitedspinal.org to see their support groups offerings. Our groups are open to all gender identities and sexual or romantic orientations. If you have any questions regarding Support Groups, want to know which group might be a good fit for you, or would like more information, please contact SCIboston’s Community Involvement Coordinator, Heidi Estrada at [email protected] Click here for our full list of support groups. |
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|  | | Steven F. Riley Memorial Educational Scholarship Increased to $2,500 SCIboston is pleased to announce that the Steven F. Riley Memorial Educational Scholarship has increased from $1,000 to $2,500 per recipient, expanding the support available to individuals pursuing their educational goals. Two $2,500 scholarships are awarded each year, and applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The scholarship honors the memory of Steven F. Riley and his commitment to education and opportunity by helping members of the spinal cord injury community pursue college, vocational training, certification programs, and other educational opportunities. We encourage eligible members of our community to apply and take advantage of this increased support. Apply here — https://www.sciboston.org/sfreducationalscholarship |
| Hello SCIboston community, We have a small but meaningful request. SCIboston is proud to be able to offer our programs to individuals living with SCI, it is what we love to do and we hope we are doing it well. SCIboston is looking to share our impact through your voices with our donors, stakeholders, and foundations so they can have an opportunity to hear from the people we serve. If you have been positively impacted by any of our programs- - Peer Mentor
- Support Group
- Social Event
- Saturday Education Series
- Transition Program
- Travis Roy Legacy Grant Program
- Steven F Riley Memorial Educational Scholarship
- Dr. Haywards course- Navigating Change:Resilience and and Adaptation after SCI
- Advocacy
We would be incredibly grateful if you could share a brief statement (1-2 sentences) with us about how it made a difference to your life. It does not need to be long or formal, just a sentence or two would be incredibly helpful. With your permission, we may use these statements in grant applications and other funding requests to help demonstrate the value and impact of our work. If you would like to offer a statement you can send it to [email protected] Thank you for taking the time to share what SCIboston has meant to you. Your voice helps us demonstrate why this community matters and helps us continue offering programs and services at no cost so that no one has to navigate life with SCI alone. Thank you for your support and for being a part of SCIboston!  Molly
Executive Director |
|  Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day at the State House Recap  Watch the full video with presentations HERE! Dr. Eric Ruby of Massachusetts Walks Again and SCIboston hosted the annual SCI Awareness Day event at the MA State House on September 16th. Senator Brady sponsored the event, and his Chief of Staff, Tobias Cowans, spoke on his behalf. We heard from Kelly Cunningham and Jeanne Hathaway from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Violence and Injury Prevention on SCI data and statistics, and the grant proposal; you can find what was presented here. Kristen McCosh, Commissioner of Disability for the City of Boston, shared her personal story of living a full and fulfilling life with an SCI, while acknowledging the many hurdles she had to overcome. Thomas Smith and Sarah Merrefield of the Thomas E. Smith Foundation spoke about their advocacy for The Look Up Line, an SCI prevention measure that reduces hockey injuries caused by hitting the boards. They were also this year's recipients of the SCI Awareness Month Proclamation signed by Gov. Maura Healy. We heard a clinical success story from Macey Ledet and Justin Brown, M.D., involving peripheral nerve transfers. Lastly, Sara Mintz of Onward shared their success story with ARC-EX, a stimulator that delivers electrical pulses to the cervical spinal cord via electrodes placed on the skin at the back of the neck. Thank you to Dr. Ruby and all the volunteers for making this event possible. Thank you to Sen. Brady! Reminder to Vote Your voices need to be heard, and one of the best ways is to vote! Early voting (State Election: October 17-30) and vote-by-mail information can be found here Information for voters with disabilities is available here. From RTAG and BCIL Keolis is working with their survey vendor to help understand how riders with disabilities access train schedules in a digital format. Who: Riders who use the Commuter Rail and use assistive technology to access train schedules digitally
When: 2 in-person focus groups between October 17 and October 20
Where: In-Person, one event near North Station and one near South Station As an appreciation for your time, lunch and a gift card will be provided. Please contact Jess White at [email protected] if you are interested in participating. They are looking for 10 to 12 participants, so feel free to share with other riders who use the Commuter Rail and use assistive technology to access schedules. From NCART K0005 Prior Authorization Reminder: For dates of service on or after October 28, 2026, CMS will require an affirmed prior authorization (PA) for K0005 nationwide as a condition for payment. CMS has updated the Operational Guide to remind providers that the following documentation is required to be included in the prior authorization package: 1. Written Order Prior to Delivery (WOPD) 2. Face-to-Face Examination 3. Documentation from the medical record to support medical necessity. The DME MACs will begin accepting prior authorization requests for K0005 CRT manual wheelchairs on October 14, 2026. Please note – The DME MACs informed the provider community that PA will be for the wheelchair base only and will not include a review of medical necessity for any options, accessories, seating or positioning items used with the wheelchair. However, wheelchair seat cushions (E2601 – E2608 and E2622 – E2625) and wheelchair back cushions (E2611 – E2616 and E2620 & E2621) may be submitted voluntarily through the prior authorization process. Follow us on Instagram or sign up for the SCIboston advocacy email list to receive updates on all things advocacy. |
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| Peer Mentor Spotlight Name: Mary C Injury Level: T10 Complete Year of Injury: 2000 Mary sustained a spinal cord injury in 2000 at age 36 following a motor vehicle accident. She has a T-10 complete spinal cord injury. Before her injury, she worked as a paramedic and firefighter. These experiences continue to shape her commitment to helping others. She is knowledgeable about spinal cord injury-related topics, including colostomies, urostomies, and advocacy, and actively volunteers in her local community and with SCIboston. Outside of volunteering, she enjoys traveling, fishing, and reading, and sharing special moments with her daughter, Hannah, at Red Sox games and theater shows. Her experiences, compassion, and dedication to the SCI community make her an important voice and resource for others living with spinal cord injury. |
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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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| 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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|  | 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. Contact [email protected] for more information about sponsorship.
- 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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| | United Spinal Special Offers |
|  | Whirlpool's Inside Pass | United Spinal Association members now have access to a new, valuable benefit. Whirpool’s Inside Pass program is an employee, friends and family discount program that offers factory discounts and insider perks for a variety of Whirlpool-owned brands, including Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana and Gladiator.
The level of discount varies by product, but members can expect significant savings.
Inside Pass offers free delivery on major appliances priced at $399 and over, a dedicated customer support team, and options for professional installation. They also offer significant discounts on small appliances like toaster ovens, blenders, mixers, food processors, coffee machines, rice cookers and more. Gladiator garage storage solutions — like toolbenches, wall cabinets, overhead storage systems and more — are also included in the program. | | |
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 | Betterhelp Trial Discount United Spinal Association has partnered with BetterHelp to support the health and well-being of our members. Get matched with a licensed therapist for convenient and professional therapy. To activate the Betterhelp month trial, please use the instructions below. The code to activate the benefit is e3774 if existing members need it. All new members are given the code when they join in their emailed welcome letter. BetterHelp is one of the worlds largest online therapy platforms providing: - Over 30,000 licensed and vetted therapists to choose from based on your personal needs and preferences
- Four ways to talk with your therapist: video conferencing, phone, live chat, and asynchronous messaging
- The ability to speak with your therapist when and where you want to
- Members may send a message to the therapist at any time. Video, phone, and live chat sessions are available through scheduling
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| | Did you miss a newsletter? All our past newsletters can be found here: |
| | Helpful Websites For our full list of SCI resources, click here |
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| SCIboston
2 Rehabilitation Way | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801
(617) 952-5643 | [email protected] |
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