Anyone with a spinal cord impairment (SCI) will tell you that it is a life-altering circumstance. That is why, along with family support and the right medical attention, an association like United Spinal, which promotes accessibility in the mainstream as well as independence for individuals with SCI, is essential for the newly injured or diagnosed. But imagine if you or your family had difficulty with the language and lacked awareness about the benefits of such an organization.
Traumatic SCI or the onset of a central nervous system condition such as multiple sclerosis (MS) does not differentiate based on race or ethnicity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Hispanics in the US with an SCI is over 30,000 – 10.4% of Americans with an SCI. Recognizing this fact, United Spinal has been making every effort to reach out to the Hispanic community by developing a Cultural Diversity Task Force, providing brochures and information both in English and in Spanish and joining forces with the media to provide awareness to the Hispanic community.
Cultural Diversity Task Force
“The purpose of this forum is to bring together representatives from various agencies and organizations that represent individuals from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds to discuss the issues and concerns of the disability community, particularly individuals with [SCI/D] and other mobility impairments,” said Marlene Perkins, director of Education and Outreach for the United Spinal. “In addition, the purpose of this forum is to establish United Spinal Association as a viable resource that can be utilized by the represented organizations in their efforts to reach their members and other minorities with disabilities.
The goals of this task force are to:
• Inform represented groups about United Spinal
• Raise the level of awareness about issues that impact the disability community by presenting information on specific subject matters (see below) and the importance of adding disability issues to their national agenda
• Assist in the establishment of disability programs/components within represented groups
• Establish ongoing dialogue between represented groups and United Spinal and other entities that represent individuals with disabilities
• Provide resource information about other disability rights organizations
Education in Spanish
In March, United Spinal announced the availability of its most popular booklets in Spanish. All of these publications are geared to empower Americans with disabilities to lead more fulfilling and productive lives. Some of the publications include:
• Understanding The ADA (Explicación de la Ley que Protege a los Impedidos)— Explains the different titles of the Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA) in a comprehensive manner.
• Access State And Local Government (Aceso Al Gobierno Estatal Y Local)—Gives an in depth explanation of Title II of the ADA, which prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against people with disabilities in their programs and services.
• Taking Action (Tomar Accion)—Teaches individuals to become effective self-advocates in any situation.
• Fire Safety For Wheelchair Users at Work and at Home (Seguridad De Contra Incendios Para Usarios de Sillas de Ruedas En El Trabajo y En El Hogar)—Reviews new design features that enhance workplace fire safety, as well as fire prevention and planning in the home.
• Accessible Air Travel (Transporte Aéreo Accesible: Una GuÃa Para La Gente Con Discapacidades)—Provides details about equipment for travelers with disabilities on commercial aircraft, and reservations and boarding procedures.
• Disability Etiquette (Reglas De Etiqueta Frente a Una Persona Con Una Discapacidad)—How to interact more effectively with people with various disabilities.
Media Outreach
Along with forming a task force and educational brochures and pamphlets to provide the organization with a means to expand its mission to all Americans with disabilities regardless of age, gender or race, United Spinal realizes that one of the most important steps of reaching out to the Latino communities is to make use of Hispanic media outlets.
On March 22, United Spinal joined Telemundo on a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Galo Arellano, the reporter for Telemundo, thought it necessary to share the importance of our organization and the Wounded Warrior program with the Telemundo audience. Arellano was given the opportunity to speak with several wounded soldiers and tour certain areas of the hospital.
“The most important thing for Telemundo and for us is to come here to see the cruel reality of the Spanish soldiers, the people that went to fight for the country and right now are fighting the most difficult war and the most difficult fight of their own lives,” said Arellano in admiration. “They have to come back to their homes with a lot of disabilities. And the objective we have is to show what the truth is. It is cruel, it is sad and it has touched me. I think we have to be more aware that the problems that we may face may not be as bad as we make them out to be. These soldiers really have a problem but yet they are living and they are moving on.”
Arellano spoke as he watched in amazement as Sgt. Orlando Gill removed his prosthetic leg and then peeled off his bandages from his right knee revealing his injury. On this day, Gill spent his time in physical therapy sharing his story of survival with Telemundo and more importantly with its audience. At 31 years of age, Gill, who served in the U.S. Army, was born and raised in the Bronx and is of Columbian descent. In Aramedia, Iraq, Sgt. Gill was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Although he says he felt excruciating pain, he has since lost the fear of falling and says that if he falls again he knows he will be able to just get right back up again.
“I’m honored to work with heroes every day and get to give back to these heroes some of what they lost,” said Specialist Harvey Naranjo, occupational therapist for the Department of Ortho and Rehab/SAF/CONT at Walter Reed Hospital. “That’s my objective and mission here, and I love my job.”
Hailing from Brooklyn and a native of Ecuador, Naranjo says, “We are so glad that Telemundo is here today because there are a lot of Latins who are serving the country today, and the United States needs to see that, too.”
Arellano says that he has walked away from this experience satisfied that he had the opportunity to meet such inspirational individuals and is fulfilled in knowing that organizations like United Spinal and Wounded Warrior Project exist to help individuals with disabilities. He continued on to say that the soldiers he had the honor of meeting all had smiles on their faces and that he was touched with their stories, perseverance, and candor they had for the Hispanic audience this report would bring to the living rooms of many Latino families.
Jennifer M. Rodriguez is assistant public affairs officer at United Spinal.
