National Spinal Cord Injury Month

National Spinal Cord Injury Month (National SCI Awareness Month) in September honors the courage of those with spinal cord injuries and their families. The observance also aims to educate the general public regarding SCI and improve the support for those with SCI.

Those with SCI face obstacles most people rarely think about. Depending on the severity of the injury, someone with SCI may require:

A wheelchair adaptive home.
Outside support and assistance.
Around-the-clock medical care.
An adaptive vehicle, wheelchair lift, or ramps.
Businesses that accommodate their mobility equipment.

The causes of SCI are often caused by accidents such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports and recreational injuries. Other causes of SCI include acts of violence or surgical complications.

An SCI is either complete or incomplete. A complete SCI results in complete paralysis below the injury and is usually permanent. Alternatively, some function remains on one or both sides with an incomplete SCI and there is potential for improvement.

While an SCI is a life-altering diagnosis, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, treatments and accessibility are improving all the time. Organizations around the country help those with SCI to access mobility equipment such as accessible vehicles, scooters, lifts, and wheelchairs. They also offer support through volunteers, social networking and more. Find the organization for you at Ability Center.

HOW TO OBSERVE #SCIAwarenessMonth
All through September, SCI Awareness Month offers opportunities to get involved.

Donate – Donations support research, support organizations, and improved accessibility. Join or organize a fundraiser to show your support.
Advocate – Support of those with SCI includes advocating on their behalf.
Share – Take to social media and share information regarding fund-raisers, volunteer organizations, resources, or even your own story.
Support – Spend time with loved ones with SCI. Listen and learn from their experiences and support their goals.
Post your events and stories on social media using #SCIAwarenessMonth.