| |  | Chapter Name Change We are excited to announce that we have transitioned our Chapter’s name from the Greater Boston Chapter of United Spinal Asspciation, 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 |
|  | | | | SCIboston's Grants 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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| In this newsletter you will find: -
Upcoming Events - Advocacy Update
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Looking to Connect with a Peer Mentor? -
SCIboston YouTube -
Support Groups -
For Sale/Donations -
Grant Program (Durable Medical Equipment and Vehicle Modifications) -
Community Tidbits (Adaptive Climbing, CRT Awareness Week, Brandeis Study) -
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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| | | Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month which honors the courage of those living with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries. Raising awareness can be as simple as wearing an lime green awareness ribbon or as fun as hosting a community event like the ones below! Click on the button to go to our SCI Awareness webpage and learn more about what you can do to raise awareness. |
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|  We are very excited for Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day at Fenway Park on September 10th! Group tickets are sold out, but regular tickets may still be available for that day. Click Here to check availability. Or you can watch the game at home and look for us in the right field grandstands, near the pesky poll, and behind the bullpens! *Regular Tickets are not part of our group tickets and will be in other areas of Fenway Park.*
*We can not assist in the purchase of these tickets.* | | | | | | |
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| Annual SCI Awareness Month Proclamation and Presentation Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day
Thursday, September 14, 2023, 12PM -1PM
Massachusetts State House - Hall of Flags
24 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02133 After three years virtually, we will be back in-person in the Hall of Flags. Join us for a complimentary buffet lunch while we network and share updates from researchers and the Department of Public Health. Please register here https://www.sciboston.org/sciad |
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| Saturday Education Series: Medical Fundraising with Help, Hope, Live Saturday, September 30, 2023, 11 a.m. -12:30 PM Join us to learn how the non-profit, Help, Hope, Live, can assist with creating and managing community-based fundraisers to help with medical expenses and related costs due to injuries and illnesses. Opportunity for Q & A. |
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| Allie's Paddle - Allie Crushed It!!! Allie completed his 34+ mile stand-up paddle around Aquidneck Island, RI on August 21st in 8 hours! He paddled a day earlier than planned due to weather and water current concerns. When he finished, a group of his friends, family, and our board president, Doug Frey were there cheering him on! Thank you, Allie, for your tremendous strength and commitment to raise awareness for the spinal cord injury community and to raise funds for the SCIboston grant program! Thank you to all of Allie's family for being a huge support to Allie during his campaign and his training. Thank you to Allie's crew who kept him safe and supported during his paddle. And thank you to the weather for cooperating. Special thank you to all the donors that have donated so far! |
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 | Click Here to watch a video from Allie and to learn more about his experience! |
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|  Support Safe Air Travel for Wheelchair Users This is our moment to push for legislation that will create new protections for airline passengers with disabilities, and make meaningful policy changes to bring greater accountability and improve the air travel experience for wheelchair users. United Spinal Association supports the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (H.R. 1267/S. 545), which has been introduced by Representative Dina Titus and Senator Tammy Baldwin. TAKE ACTION This months advocacy update includes calls to action for protecting the home and community based services, DPC's Legislative Access Agenda, and U.S. Access Board's webinar on accessible residential housing, and much more! 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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| 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: 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. 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: Therapy Table (FREE) Kia Soul Ramp Vehicle Duet Basic Bicycle Concept Rower 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 The Cost of Living With a Disability in America
By A. Andrews In this article, presented as a graphic novel, the author presents four stories about the difficulties of living in in the United States as an individual with a disability. This five-minute read is beautifully illustrated and does a great job with the facts of living "crisis-to-crisis". I suggest reading this on a laptop, tablet or desktop to better suit the formatting and artwork. - Ryan "Last month, I spent days sobbing quietly in the bathroom. I was low on medical supplies for my daily catheterizations—and worse—low on income, desperate to figure out how I was going to swing it. Despite having a near constant flow of work (for which, I’m both lucky and grateful), I’m always barely making it, financially..." Continue reading the article by clicking 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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