September 2013 is Officially "National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month"

Did you know that September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month? Florida Senators Marco Rubio, a Republican, and Bill Nelson, a Democrat, teamed up to co-sponsor the recent resolution. According to Sen. Rubio, “By designating September as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, I hope we can further educate the public about how crippling accidents can be prevented while promoting the important work being done to help victims walk again.”  With over 200,000 people living with spinal cord injuries in the US alone and one person paralyzed every 48 minutes, awareness and a concerted effort to find new treatments are much needed.

How can you help? The Buoniconti Fund’s “Will You Stand Up for Those Who Can’t” campaign has a few suggestions: you can make a donation to the Miami Project, “the world’s most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center” founded to find a cure for paralysis, replace your Facebook default with their picture above, or email and tweet your friends to discuss the importance of finding a cure for paralysis. 

Together, we can each do our part to raise awareness, prevent injuries, and help those living with SCI.

"Disability Etiquette: Tips on Interacting with People with Disabilities," by the United Spinal Association

For anyone out there, disabled or not, who wants to learn to “interact more effectively with people with disabilities,” the United Spinal Association has a booklet just for you. In “Disability Etiquette: Tips on Interacting with People with Disabilities,” you’ll read about how to better understand, communicate, and work with others who may be different than you. From teaching you the importance of “asking before you help” to “speaking directly to a person with a disability, not to his companion,” this booklet has it all!

Click the following link to read "Disability Etiquette: Tips on Interacting with People with Disabilities”

Also, don't forget to check out more of the Free Publications the United Spinal Association has to offer!

The United Spinal Association: A Great Resource for those Living with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders

Here at MFM we recently heard about the impressive work being done by the United Spinal Association. According to their mission statement, the United Spinal Association’s goal “…is to improve the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).” Primarily through “active-lifestyle information, peer support, and advocacy,” this amazing non-profit “empowers people with SCI/D to achieve their highest potential in all facets of life.”

Check out the below links to learn more…

United Spinal Association's Website: http://www.unitedspinal.org/

Resources

Services

Free Publications

Awesome Boston Based Non-Profit: Helping Hands Monkey Helpers

 We recently learned of the Helping Hands Monkey Helpers non-profit based in Boston and are impressed with their awesome work. According to their website, Helping Hands “helps adults with spinal cord injuries and other mobility impairments live more independent and engaged lives…by providing them, free of charge…with a highly trained capuchin monkey to help with their daily tasks.” Since 1979, Helping hands has been carefully matching monkey helpers with disabled recipients giving them “the priceless gifts of greater independence, companionship, and hope.” 

Check out the video below to meet Mary Kay Young and her monkey helper Amy.

Click here for the Helping Hands website: http://www.monkeyhelpers.org/

Beyond the Tasks from Helping Hands Monkey Helpers on Vimeo. 

PhD Thesis Determines that “Hand Surgery Enhances Life Quality for those with Spinal Cord Injuries”

Patient's hand before surgery (photo credit: University of Gothenburg, The Sahlgrenska Academy)Johanna Wangdell, a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, wrote her thesis on the benefits of hand surgery for survivors of cervical spinal cord injuries. Johanna’s is the first study to focus on the “patient viewpoint” of the benefits of such surgeries. Johanna interviewed every patient that had hand reconstruction surgery at Sahlgrenska Univsity Hospital since 2003; Salgrenska has pioneered this procedure and has been performing and enhancing it since the 1970s. According to the results of her research, the majority of patients are extremely satisfied with the results of the surgery.  As Johnanna discovered, “The surgery doesn’t only deliver a physical benefit in the form of increased gripping strength. The ability to eat independently, to carry out household chores and leisure activities offers mental rewards which benefit our social life, our daily habits and the roles we perform. Knowing that you can handle things yourself…is, in many cases, invaluable.” 

Patient's hand after surgery (photo credit: University of Gothenburg, The Sahlgrenska Academy)While patients report increased ability and satisfaction with the surgery, it is not conducted very frequently outside of Sweden. While 4 of 10 spinal cord injury survivors receive the hand surgery in Sweden, the number is only 1 of 10 in the United States. As a result of her study, Johanna hopes that her research “will contribute to the surgery becoming available much more widely, both in Sweden and the rest of the world.”

Click the following link to learn more about Johanna Wangdells research on The University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy website: “Hand surgery enhances life quality for those with spinal cord injuries”