When I was in rehabilitation back in 1968, the process of learning to live life from a wheelchair was truly a team effort. In the wards of the old Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital, patients worked on their rehab together and shared their ideas and problems with each other. Many of us were just getting back […]

A chapter of the national Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) for 56 years, Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association became an independent, freestanding national veterans service organization on January 29, 2003. The very next day at a meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Honorable Anthony J. Principi, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, handed us a letter certifying us […]

The theme of this inaugural issue of United Spinal Association Orbit is best summed up in two words: change and continuity. As our organization undergoes a major transformation this year, it is fitting—indeed, unavoidable—that the magazine that covers it transform itself simultaneously. Thus, we have a new name, a new look, and a new section […]

During the transition process from Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association to United Spinal Association, a number of critical Bylaw changes of this Corporation were approved by a majority of voting members, and ratified by the Board of Directors. Here’s a summary of these important Bylaw changes: The name of this Corporation was altered so that it […]

How we got to where we are, and what it bodes for the future of United Spinal.
On May 22, 1946, a small band of veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) at the Halloran Army Hospital on Staten Island formed a support group to help each other lead independent lives. Later, the seven founding chapters […]

RESEARCH HORIZONS | Lakshmi Bangalore

by Lakshmi Bangalore
United Spinal continues a long-standing relationship with one of the premiere research centers in the world.
Fifteen years ago, Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, in its mission to help people with spinal cord injury (SCI), established the Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research in a joint partnership with Yale […]

by Stephen Sofer, PhD
Since 1946, United Spinal Association, under its old name Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with spinal cord impairment (SCI) by assuring quality health care, promoting research, and advocating for civil rights and independence. The overall mission of United Spinal has been to […]

by Michael P. Johnson

The Benefit Services program coordinates representation in all aspects of veterans benefits including compensation, pension, education benefits, benefits to the surviving spouses of veterans, and many other types of assistance available to our members. The organization began providing representation in VA benefit claims in 1962, pursuant to an agreement with the […]

by Jerome Kleckley, CSW
Recognizing the importance of quality, specialized care to individuals with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D), United Spinal Association operates a Hospital Services program to ensure access for our members to such care. Hospital Services employs a staff of social workers and trained patient advocates who interact with federal, state, and […]

by Kleo King
As we grow as a national organization, our office of General Counsel plans to expand our work on the enforcement of the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) and other laws, which require housing to be constructed with accessible elements. We will build on our prior successes, which involved taking on numerous builders […]

by Jeremy Chwat
The mission of United Spinal Association’s Legislative program is to monitor, create and pursue legislative and policy changes that will benefit people with spinal cord injuries. While the programmatic mission remains unchanged, the move to a national organization will have impact on the manner in which we pursue our mission. Previously, Eastern Paralyzed […]

by Ronald McLearie
The Architecture program has been working with our veterans with spinal cord injuries since 1975 to help them make their homes more accessible. Originally, we worked to help members with service-connected injuries get the Specially Adapted Housing Grant from the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs or VA). The grant […]

by Brian Black
A carpenter building a ramp needs to cut a two-by-four. He may guess at the length he needs, then hack a section from a longer piece of lumber with a hatchet. Or he can use a tape measure and saber saw to get the length of wood that will make the ramp safe […]

by Marlene Perkins
Advocacy isn’t a sometime thing; it is an all the time thing.
As our organization expands from providing services mainly in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Southern Connecticut, the Advocacy program is ready to make its presence felt across the country. For the past 15 years, the program has emphasized education […]

by Lisa Gesson

Everybody reading this column is or should be an advocate.
Those of us who work as professional advocates spend our work lives trying to make sure that everyone has access to the same civil rights. We begin by studying the laws, the regulations, the trends and the choices made by society. Self- […]

by Terry Moakley
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, an older woman who has a spinal cord injury and uses a power chair wants to visit a friend across town but does not have the skills to take public transportation. With the help of a travel training instructor at the local independent living center, she learns to […]

by Jani Nayar

Of journeying the benefits are many: the freshness it bringeth to the heart, the seeing and hearing of marvelous things, the delight of beholding new cities, the meeting of unknown friends, and the learning of high manners.”
Sadi, Gulistan
It was the year 1972. The U.S. Paralympics Team, after a trail of successes […]

by Terry Moakley
The Public Affairs program of the United Spinal Association has five basic responsibilities. We are in charge of the content of our monthly membership newsletter, as well as the annual report of the organization. It is also our job to educate the general public about what United Spinal does; to cover, or […]

by Patrick Donaghey

As an organization, we have always recognized the importance of sports and recreation for individuals with disabilities. Participation in such events not only helps to build a healthy body, but also to enable individuals to develop the self-confidence needed to explore new opportunities and to live more independently. We have traditionally […]