Meet SPINALpedia’s newest SCI Superstar Gordon Reid! At only 24 years old, he won the first ever men’s singles match held at Wimbledon earlier this month. Scottish-bred and born, this 24 year old is on-fire in the wheelchair tennis world. Read more
Author: Tiff
Wheelchair Dancers Recreate Famous Dance Scenes
I have been on the internet for forever and these famous dance scene recreations from film by People Dancing, a community dance project in the UK (that was completed in 2014) are crazy good, and I’m only discovering it now! The dance scenes are beautiful, polished, humorous; really perfectly done. The exhibit is called 11 Million Reasons and it took an entire year to complete. The world needs to see this! Please share what they’re doing.
SCI Superstar: Harry Horgan
Sailing calls out to many people, and it definitely called to Harry Horgan, founder of one of the most established sailing nonprofits in the country. What started as an adapted sailing program 30 years is now helping both people with disabilities and underprivileged children experience the beauty of the open water. Shake-A-Leg Miami has undoubtedly changed thousands of lives.
Also a husband, brother, as well as a father to a teenage boy who loves sailing just as much as he does, Harry is a seasoned paraplegic who is many faceted, but his compass will always remain pointed towards sailing. His upbringing on the East Coast near the water had a strong influence on him, making sailing one of his top passions. Read more
Perfectly wheeled wedding in Palm Springs
I see a lot of awesome wheelchair wedding pics online all the time, in my line of work, from my thousands of wheeled friends n FB and on Pinterest, but recently a photoset of a wedding/reception really impressed me. Jana and Cory (married for nearly 2 years now) got married at the fab retro hotel, the Ace Hotel, in the just a fabulously retro location Palm Springs, Cali. If you plan on getting married this year and are a bride using a powerchair, Jana and Cory’s photos by the talented David Richards Photography is something to behold. Check them out
Ps. I absolutely love her dress choice. Strapless in a wheelchair can look so good. And even better news, the happy couple is loving married life.
Really, no need to be embarrassed for liking us
I recently wrote a blog post on the bizarre subject of people feeling embarrassed for being attracted to wheelchair-users, as if it’s akin to finding a child or corpse attractive. I have been countlessly taken aback by backhanded compliments since my spinal cord injury stemming from this. Eg: “So and so found you hot, BUT he was too embarrassed to say so…to anybody.”
*Sigh* Having a SCI can be way too complicated sometimes. Read the entirety of my thoughts on this subject on Easystand – “Embarrassed for Being Attracted to a Disabled Person?”
SCI Superstar: Peter Soby Jr.
One look at Peter Soby, a 47 year old C5-6 quad, and you can just tell he is someone special. Forget the wheelchair; you feel it the moment you look at him. A writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and motivational speaker rolled into one, he has done it all since graduating from college with his degree in speech communications.
And he hasn’t let his spinal cord injury prevent him from tackling this very image-conscious world. His whirlwind story may include a spinal cord injury but he’s followed his creative drive. For a taste of this life adventurer living in sunny California, read on for the unforgettable story of Peter Soby. Read more
SCI Superstar: Rob Wudlick
Even though he’s only 30 years old, Rob Wudlick’s journey since his spinal cord injury has been one-of-the kind. A fresh SCI research advocate, newly injured people like Rob are refusing to accept spinal cord injuries as permanent, and what they’re doing to help the SCI community is helping in big ways.
Other than working out since his injury using activity-based therapy (and being one of the most positive guys in the gym), he’s a founding member and Chairman of the Board for a nonprofit dedicated to curing spinal cord injury, Get Up Stand Up (GUSU), and is busy hitting the pavement at Capitol Hill (in his home state or in DC) whenever he can. Read on for a snapshot into the life of an unexpected advocate. Read the rest
Working 2 Walk 2015: We Came, We Saw and We Left with Hope
For the last 10 years a great event to further spinal cord injury (SCI) SCI research has been happening: The Working 2 Walk (W2W) Symposium – a 2-day event sponsored by the United2Fight Paralysis Association; and Spinalpedia was there!
We met so many impressive advocates with paralysis and heard the latest on several promising research programs, it would’ve been impossible to leave without hope. Please enjoy our W2W 2015 review. Read for more
Stop Proposed Cuts to Medicare/Medicaid Before Jan. 1st, 2016!
Do you use a wheelchair and are on Medicare or Medicaid? Coming January 1st, 2016 a major change is looming and WILL affect how often you can receive repairs on your wheelchair (as well as any other complex medical equipment you own).
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced they will apply Competitive Bid Pricing (CBP) to Complex Rehab wheelchair accessories starting next year. This violates the true intent of past Congressional legislation and would inappropriately reduce payment rates for 171 product codes from 20% to over 40%.
Bill H.R. 3229, proposed by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) will stop this by providing a technical correction to clarify that that Medicare competitive bidding pricing to accessories cannot be applied to complex rehab wheelchairs.
To make this bill a reality and to stop the proposed cuts, please EMAIL and CALL your House Representative to get them to support the bill. To learn how to do this successfully, visit this link: http://cqrcengage.com/access2crt/HR3229
Fashion Student Heidi McKenzie Becomes Paraplegic, Returns to Industry
The latest wheelchair fashion designer to throw her hat into the ring, Heidi McKenzie is unlike any other wheelchair designer of there. A paraplegic since her early twenties, Heidi has owned being a woman with a spinal cord injury, competing in Ms. Wheelchair America and now her latest venture – becoming a business woman -since her injury.
But her latest venture, creating customized wheelchair clothing, is what has launched her into fame this past year. From appearing on local media to being profiled on some of the biggest websites online, Heidi’s grand “coming out” last year with her brand (which included a successful Kickstarter campaign) has been phenomenal. Read more