Two years after its founding, 70 of United Spinal’s members rolled into Grand Central Station in New York City in 1948 and collected signatures supporting an accessible housing bill. Days later, President Truman signs the legislation into law.

Our former executive director and U.S. Army veteran James J. Peters convinced Life magazine in 1970 to run a cover story exposing the deplorable conditions facing Vietnam veterans with spinal cord injuries at the Bronx VA Medical Center. The story sparked a national outrage and convinced Congress to raze the facility and build a brand new hospital with special attention to SCI. In 2005, the hospital was renamed in honor of Peters and his work to ensure all veterans receive quality health care.

United Spinal has written federal legislation critical to the livelihood of people with disabilities, including portions of the Americans with Disabilities Act–– the landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Since it was enacted in 1990, we have strived to ensure that the promise of the ADA becomes a reality to all it protects.

We have donated over $52 million for spinal cord research and helped launch Yale University Medical School’s Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research––one of the most respected spinal cord research facilities in the country. Led by a dedicated staff of scientists from around the world, the Yale Center continues to make an impact on the treatment, and ultimately the cure, of SCI/D.

NSCIA, United Spinal’s membership program is committed to providing life-long resources for people with SCI/D. It actively develops and implements initiatives that allow direct contact with newly injured/diagnosed individuals and their families, within the first few days of injury.

In 1996, United Spinal was instrumental in getting New York City to create sidewalk curb ramps so that wheelchair users could navigate the City’s streets. We also initiated a major advocacy campaign to make every bus and many of the subway stations in the City accessible. Each month, more than 90,000 people with disabilities ride New York City’s lift-equipped buses and the program has become a blueprint for other US cities.

Paul J. Tobin, United Spinal’s President and Chief Executive Officer is a United States Navy veteran and wheelchair user who worked his way up the ranks at our organization since 1995.

Lex Frieden, United Spinal’s Chairman of the Board is one of America’s pre-eminent disability activists and leaders of the Independent Living Movement. He was one of the major figures that oversaw the writing of the first draft of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. From 2002 to 2006, he served as Chairman of the National Council on Disability (NCD), a presidentially appointed body.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, United Spinal staff stocked an accessible bus with 32 wheelchairs, two hospital beds, a Hoyer lift, and other mobility equipment — drove to New Orleans — and donated it to a local independent living center that was out of supplies and in need of transportation for its members.

Our Disability Etiquette booklet − which offers tips on interacting with people with various disabilities −has been distributed nationwide to thousands of businesses, schools, and organizations to help increase awareness of the importance of disability etiquette.

United Spinal regularly hosts disability etiquette training sessions and webinars focusing on increasing sensitivity in the workplace and marketplace to issues affecting people with disabilities.

Our membership site, http://www.spinalcord.org, has grown to be a leading source of news and information for the SCI/D community, and the larger disability community.

United Spinal’s New Mobility magazine reaches 24,000 active wheelchair users each month. The publication encourages the integration of active-lifestyle wheelchair users into mainstream society, while simultaneously reflecting the innovative world of disability related arts, media, advocacy and philosophy.

We are vigilant in our efforts to challenge those who evade compliance with the ADA in transportation, housing and employment. In 2011, United Spinal filed a class action lawsuit against the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) for violating the law by failing to provide yellow taxis that wheelchair-users can access.

Our Accessibility Services program was a consultant for accessibility of the New Yankee Stadium. Our staff met with the team to review plans for compliance with the ADA and local access codes, conducted community outreach meetings, and performed as-built inspections to ensure that the facility was built according to the architectural plan.

United Spinal hosts unique events every year that attract thousands of consumers, advocates, community leaders, and disability organizations. Our conferences and expos help people discover new paths to independence and celebrate all of our individual abilities and talents.