Greater Boston Chapter of National Spinal Cord Injury Association

CONTACT:

2 Rehabilitation Way
Woburn, MA 01801
781-933-8666
www.sciboston.org

David Estrada, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Every year, 150-250 Massachusetts citizens suffer spinal cord injuries (SCI). The impact on victims’ lives is almost total — requiring navigation of the healthcare system, securing and learning to use technological support, and making adjustments to homes, logistics, jobs, personal relationships, self-definition, and more. The GBC of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association was founded in 1991 by a quadriplegic, Paul Logan, who with a group of like-minded folks saw the need to provide facilitation services to new victims. Located at Healthsouth in Woburn and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, and working with trauma centers across Massachusetts, GBC reaches out to newly injured patients and their families, offering resources, vital information, volunteer peer visitors, advocacy, and education. GBC’s Peer Visitation Program was praised by Christopher Reeve for recognizing the deeply emotional issues surrounding SCI; it pairs new victims with role models who have successfully adjusted to their new lives, who can answer all questions and exemplify solutions. Support groups, a Wheelchair Van Giveaway program, social and sporting events, a newsletter — all carried out on a modest budget of $200,000. Only philanthropy can do it, and you can help.

(2006: HUMAN SERVICES: Disabilities)