We need YOU to educate your representative in Congress about what Medicare is doing to YOUR power wheelchair/scooter benefit.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently issued a series of draft and final policy changes to the coding, coverage and documentation rules for power wheelchairs and scooters. Some of these changes are […]

by Clair Russell Hesselton, PhD
The past several weeks have certainly been difficult for us as a nation, though perhaps not nearly as difficult as they have been for our friends and compatriots in the Gulf states. Regrettably, the long-term effects have yet to be fully assessed and will probably be felt for a […]

by Gerard M. Kelly
During the first week in September, United Spinal staff traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the annual conferences of the American Paraplegia Society, the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers, and the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses, which our organization has been sponsoring for over […]

by Rob Ingraham and Tom Scott
SCI Professionals met for simultaneous association conferences in Las Vegas in early September.

United Spinal Association’s 2005 SCI Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 6-8, featured a wide variety of lectures, seminars, and symposia aimed at virtually every facet of research into, and treatment of, spinal cord injury and disease. […]

by Lori A. Wood
You don’t have to subscribe to a service to have free access to 911 by cell phone. All you need is a charged phone.
On August 27, 2004, 2 weeks after her 39th birthday, Virginia “Ginny” Ellis, a quadriplegic, tragically died.
Her mother, Barbara, details what happened:
“She had […]

by Stephen Sofer, PhD
If you have health insurance you know how difficult it is to negotiate the health care insurance highway. Answers to these 10 frequently asked questions may help you avoid some of the potholes.

by Christin Krey
Children with spinal cord injury or dysfunction (SCI/D) are more than just “small people” and therefore, require more than just a “small wheelchair” for their seating and mobility needs. Although some of the goals of seating and mobility prescription are the same as adults, there are different needs and concepts that […]

by Kris Ann Piazza
For a kid with spinal cord injury (SCI), fitting in isn’t often easy—even among other kids with SCI.
My heart thumped nervously as the electric slowly raised my wheelchair into the open doorway of the school bus. I pressed my fists into my lap to hide their trembling, believing that I […]

by William J. Peace
Why do most cultures ostracize people who do not fit within social norms? According to Leslie Fiedler, who penned the term, “The Tyranny of the Normal,” society is afraid of those who are different. The “normal” people pressure those considered “abnormal” and force them to change their appearance, fix whatever […]

by Donna Fredericksen

Have you ever had a salesperson talk to your companion about what it is you want to buy? Have you ever had to ask a business to keep its ramps clear so you can access it easily? If you’re one of the 56 million Americans with a disability, chances are […]

by Jennifer M. Rodriguez
Honoring the history of a tight-knit community living, working, playing, learning and worshipping together, United Spinal Association joined “Harlem Day” on Sunday, August 21, amidst a large crowd of diverse businesses and food vendors. To the left of the United Spinal booth were women showcasing African garments and dolls; to […]

by John M. Williams
Dolphin’s SuperNova Pen for Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP provides visually- impaired individuals easy access to information. The unique, user-friendly program combines magnification, speech and Braille capabilities for Windows. Its fractional magnification feature gives visually impaired users the option to choose lower magnification levels in increments of less than 1x […]

by Terry Moakley
Some 50 MS Society, New York City chapter members converged on Bulova Park in Jackson Heights, New York on a gorgeous September 7th morning to try wheelchair basketball, handcycling, and wheelchair tennis––and to practice getting on and off a wheelchair accessible New York City Transit bus if they desired––at the annual MS […]

by Tom Scott
United Spinal Yankees Pitcher Named Rookie of the Year
At age 63, Ruben A. Granda, starting pitcher for the newly-formed United Spinal Association New York Yankees wheelchair softball team, received the Rookie of the Year award at the 29th National Wheelchair Softball Tournament held August 11–14 in Columbus, Ohio.

United Spinal Yankees […]

United Spinal Association is joining the nationwide hurricane relief effort. We are strongly committed to providing quality of life assistance to all individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) affected by Hurricane Katrina. If you are an individual with SCI/D living in the affected area of Louisiana, Alabama, or Mississippi, and are in need […]