What are the prospects for “curing” spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and related injuries of the central nervous system?
By Lakshmi Bangalore, PhD
The spinal cord is the only bridge that connects the brain to a vast majority of the body. The cables of wire-like nerve fibers within the bridge provide the path for millions […]

Dr. Wise Young says SCI therapies abound. Clinical trials are key.
By Rob Ingraham
Recently returned from a year abroad where he helped organize the first, and largest, clinical trial network for spinal cord injury (SCI) therapies in China, Dr. Wise Young gave a ringing endorsement of the burgeoning therapeutic possibilities in development overseas and […]

If you thought the Salk vaccine permanently ended the scourge of polio, think again.
By Kelly Rouba

Ms. Wheelchair America 2008 Alana Wallace has found strategies to cope with post-polio related fatigue.

It’s been about two years since NBC’s show American Dreams had its final run on prime time television after falling victim to low ratings. […]

Ancient Views of SCI
The idea of a cure for spinal cord injury is relatively new, but even the ancients grappled with spinal cord injury care.
By Tiffiny Carlson
The ancients were not completely ignorant or unaware of the realm of spinal cord injury (SCI) medicine. Thanks to the survival of a number of […]

Inspired by California facility, Push to Walk in New Jersey offers clients with SCI a chance for recovery on the East Coast.
By Anya Starykh

Jim Laughlin (right) gets some assistance on the Power Plate from trainer Eric Prol.
At 21, Darren Templeton of Kinnelon, New Jersey, has many accomplishments to boast of. A student […]

New SCI coalition will “speak with one voice” to lawmakers
By Rob Ingraham
In a broad new initiative aimed at coordinating national legislative and policy concerns, nearly 20 leading organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders have formed the Spinal Cord Leaders Council. The coalition will, for the […]

By Craig Kennedy
If Christopher Reeve were alive today, the first piece of advice he would have for us all would be to live for today. Despite all the work he did to find a cure for paralysis, Reeve lived in order to find a way to make each day better. He strived to improve […]

By Scott Chesney
Well, I said you can ask me anything and you certainly delivered…and I thank you! While I know that taking the time to pour your feelings or thoughts into an e-mail is somewhat time-consuming, I am hopeful that those of you that sent in your questions felt a nice release. Studies have […]

By Rosemarie Rossetti, PhD

It was months after my spinal cord injury before I did my first load of laundry. The reason why? I couldn’t get into my laundry room!
Even though our laundry room is on the main floor, located off of the attached garage, it is still a tight squeeze to navigate my […]

By Tamar Asedo Sherman
Finding a job isn’t easy. Most of us check the want ads in our local newspaper, searching for something we might be able to do. That is the easiest approach, but it is in fact the least likely way to obtain employment. How could that be? Ever since there have been […]

By Kathleen M. Muldoon

Yvette Silver www.yvettesilver.com

It was the first week of December and my seventh grade home room teacher, Miss Cox, had promised a special announcement.
“Regardless of which holiday your family celebrates, winter is a time of giving,” Miss Cox said. “So I decided to assign each of you a Secret Pal.” […]

Compiled by Tom Scott
Local Wheelchair Quad Rugby Team Sweeps to D.C. Area Tournament Title
The United Spinal Association New York Jets quad rugby team won five straight matches over two days to win the First Annual Capitol Clash wheelchair quad rugby tournament held at the Hoop Magic Sports Academy in Chantilly, Virginia, at the […]

Politics and Disability

Misc.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Talking Politics
NEWSROOM: Showdown on SCHIP
By Peggy Hathaway and Andrew Morris
RESEARCH FRONT: Cooling Therapy and a Buffalo Bill

Features
How a Bill Really Becomes a Law
One of United Spinal Association’s highest priorities this year, the ADA Restoration Act, illustrates the nuts and bolts of how a bill is enacted — and […]