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What Does This Mean?
Fire Safety For Wheelchair Users
United Spinal Association, has developed a free online training program designed to save the lives of individuals with disabilities and mobility impairments during fire emergencies.
Go there
Mobility Allternatives: From Canes To Wheelchairs
This free publication, written by master clinician and educator Jean Minkel, MA, PT, is a guide that assists people in making the right choice in their selection of a mobility device.
View publications.

Accessible Air Travel
Knowing what to expect from the time an airline reservation is booked to the moment the flight touches down takes the surprises out of traveling.
View publications.

About

Mission & History

United Spinal Association’s mission is to improve the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).

United Spinal was founded in 1946 by a determined group of paralyzed WWII veterans in New York City who advocated for greater civil rights and independence for themselves and their fellow veterans. Rejecting the poor treatment they received at their local VA hospital, they decided to form a support group. From these modest beginnings, United Spinal was born.

Since then, our core belief has remained unchanged. Despite living with SCI/D, a full, productive, and rewarding life is within the reach of anyone with the strength to believe it and the courage to make it happen.

United Spinal has built upon the strong foundation forged by our organization’s founders––never losing sight of their grassroots efforts to provide a voice to the disability community and to transform the public’s perception of wheelchair users.

Today, United Spinal is the largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping people living with SCI/D. We are committed to providing active-lifestyle information, peer support and advocacy that empower individuals to achieve their highest potential in all facets of life.

Community

Each year, United Spinal helps thousands of wheelchair-users, veterans, and people with multiple sclerosis and other spinal cord disorders overcome the daily challenges of living with a disability. And we extend our support to those most important in their lives–– their family members and caregivers.

United Spinal’s 35,000 members include individuals of all ages and backgrounds who are driven, independent, and active participants in our society. They are paralympians, wounded warriors, talented artists, kids with big dreams, proud parents, empowered women, self-advocates, heroes, survivors, and accomplished professionals.

National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) is the membership arm of our organization. NSCIA has over 65 years of experience educating and empowering individuals with SCI/D to achieve and maintain the highest levels of independence, health and personal fulfillment. It has more than 60 local chapters and support groups nationwide, connecting people with SCI/D to their peers and fostering an expansive grassroots network that enriches lives.

Our membership program is a lifeline for many individuals that are focused on regaining their independence and improving their quality of life––whether they are leaving rehab after sustaining a spinal cord injury, learning to live with symptoms of a spinal cord disorder, or have spent years of frustration coping with disability.

NSCIA provides members guidance and resources on a variety of topics they are passionate about, such as employment, affordable housing, transportation, health care, home- and community-based independent living, education, peer support, and leisure and recreation.

Membership is also open to medical and nonmedical professionals, product and service providers, public policy makers and others who are interested in the issues affecting people with SCI/D.

Public Policy

United Spinal Association is committed to advancing public policies that lead to greater civil rights and independence for people with disabilities.

Throughout our history, we have advocated on behalf of individuals living with SCI/D through state and federal legislation and accessibility litigation in the courts. Our members know that we are on their side, and will remain there until our support is no longer needed.

By leveraging all of our resources, we have stronger involvement in community affairs and more opportunities to advance public policies. This allows us to form key alliances that expand the reach of our mission.

Our public policy initiatives focus on expanding education and employment, improving enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ensuring adequate access to public transportation and taxi services, and amending Medicare rules that restrict many individuals to their homes and nursing facilities.

Education & Awareness

Disability awareness has always been an integral part of United Spinal’s mission and culture. Our aim is to raise public awareness on the often-overlooked disability issues that affect our community. Throughout the year, we share news and information on our key initiatives, life-enhancing events and our inspirational members with print and web media outlets nationwide.

Maintaining the highest quality communications, we promote our mission through our websites; social media pages; press releases; magazines and informative publications; participatory events and instructional sessions; public service announcements; and e-mail alerts. But the greatest asset in spreading our message has always been our members and supporters who believe in the work we do.