Dear Tiffiny,
I am a 27 year old chef and was recently involved in a motorcycle accident leaving me paralyzed from the chest down. I was really concerned that I would never date again and then in the hospital I met my current girlfriend and was really happy.
It’s been 5 months since the accident and now I am kinda realizing that I don’t know if I really like this girl at all.
A top spinal cord injury researcher, on the hunt for a cure since the 1980’s. Wise Young is one of our greatest champions. Learn all about him. Read this entry
Watch a female quad blowdry and style her own hair with zero finger movement.
Also – watch a quad wash his hair in his bathroom sink using a kitchen-style faucet installed in his bathroom and a young guy newly paralyzed, shave his head and beard with finesse. Read this entry
Injured at 10 months old in a car accident breaking her neck at C1-2, now a 4th grader, Caroline has an amazing story.
Watch her “standing frame dance” with her dad (he’s on rollerblades) as he whips her around their cul de sac. SCI research is so badly needed for kids like her. Read this awesome entry
Yup, he’s on his feet!
Meet the world’s full recovered quadriplegic (now Indy drag racer). Patrick was 21 when he was hurt, now he’s60.
And even though 85% of his spinal cord was decimated, he regained all of his function from activity based restorative therapy. Read this entry
The most decorated male Paralympian mono-skiier of all-time, one of People’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in 1998, and Chris just scaled Mt. Kilamajaro using a four-wheeled hand crank device you gotta see to believe. Read this entry
4 awesome pool videos for wheelchair-users!
The first video shows a super buff 48 yr old C6 quad uses a lap pool (by himself). Video #2 video shows a much more dignified pool lift made just for the Paralympics (so cool!)
Video #3 is three sexy quads goofing off in the pool with floaties, and video #4, why no other than Mia of Push Girls. Watch her try swimming for the first time in YEARS. Watch these videos
It’s back to school time, people, and that means wheelchair-users everywhere are rolling into classrooms (and pushing desks out of their way).
Oh man, I remember my first day of college orientation as a quad. Talk about the Scariest. Day. Ever. But I soon found out, just like these wise people below, I was freaking out over nothing and realized after a few short months that college was going to be more than ok (and utterly awesome in fact).
The first video is of Carrie, a quadriplegic (injured in 2003). She shares what it was like to go back to college at Depaul university.
In her video (created by Facingdisability.com), she touches on how surprisingly easy it was to get her professors to accommodate her disability, and how great it felt to live on campus, in the city and far far away from her parents’ home. Read this entry
And this is a big one, folks. September is – woo hoo! – Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.
What does this whole “awareness month” message mean? Lots of things…talking about what is a spinal cord injury, sharing spinal cord injury prevention tips and bringing up important issues facing people with spinal cord injuries.
This is actually where my heart lies. No one can cure us, but we can be in control of our lives by improving day-to-day issues, like having people who understand and all the information you need so you can live an amazing, healthy and independent life. HUGE stuff. That is why I am a major fan of BACKBONES. They’re a great non-profit dedicated to improving all of this really important stuff.
And this month, they’re trying to raise $10,000 for their organization, all of which will go directly to fund their mission (you can read it in full here).
They are there to give free support people with SCI and their familes – they do one-on-one pair ups, fun events all around the country. Having a good time and positivity is what they’re all about (proof!).
What’s not to love about an organization that holds city-wide scavenger hunts IN wheelchairs (everybody has to try it too, even if they can walk) as a way to teach SCI education?
A few months ago I had the pleasure of recording a podcast with Reveca Torres (listen here).
Reveca is a C5 quadriplegic who was injured in a car accident while on vacation at the age of 13. In 2009, Reveca founded BACKBONES. BACKBONES exists to provide one-on-one support for individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and their families. They’re making connections to others with a similar injury and interests via telephone, in-person, or web to encourage sharing of experiences and ideas.
BACKBONES also hosts fun, dynamic events that get people with and without SCI together for support, education, awareness and a good time! For example they have held fashion shows, wine tastings, 5Ks and more. In honor of Awareness Month BACKBONES has designed a Scavenger Hunt in two cities (Portland, OR and Chicago, IL)….
