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A Chapter of the United Spinal Association
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Keep Calm
It's Five O'clock Somewhere
Join us for our annual winter benefit, It's Five O'clock Somewhere on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 6:00 pm. This fun night will be at Crystal Grand Banquets, 12416 Archer Ave, Lemont, IL.
It's Five O'clock Somewhere
will feature live music by the Jah Moe Band, Dinner, Drinks, Dancing, Prizes, and Auctions!
Have a large group? Bringing a few friends? We have tables of 10 for a discounted rate of $650 per table!
You can purchase tickets by visiting
Questions about tickets or donations please contact us at sciinjury@aol.com or 708-671-1808
A BIG thank you to our wonderful sponsors!
Elite Care Management
Hollister
Mobility Works
**New this year** In addition to our main raffle, we are selling tickets for our BIG raffle. Four Chicago Blackhawks tickets for the March 6, 2016 game, section 115, Row 10 are this year's BIG raffle prize. Only 200 tickets will be sold, and can be purchased for $40 each. If interested in purchasing tickets, please contact us at
sciinjury@aol.com.
Don't miss our biggest event of the year! We look forward to seeing you!
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Ability Project Survey
SCIA is helping with the Ability Project Survey by disseminating this information. You could win a $50 Amazon gift card! Respond by Midnight Central Time
January 15, 2016.
You are invited to participate in a research survey of individuals with a focus on the outdoor activities of people with disabilities. It should take no more than five minutes to answer all seven questions.
Your survey responses will be kept strictly confidential. If you have any questions about the survey or the procedures, you may contact the research manager at research@abilityproject.org
Click
HERE to take the survey.
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SCIA Winter Benefit
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere!
Crystal Grand Banquets
Lemont, IL
February 20, 2016
6:00 pm
Join us for a fun night of dinner, dancing, and friends!
If you are interested in sponsoring our event, making a donation, or purchasing tickets, please contact us at sciinjury@aol.com.
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Wheelchair Lift
One year old, can go up to 40 inches high. $2500
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Wheel Chair Accessible Home in Lake Bluff, IL
4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom ranch home listed for $619,000.
Visit the home tour if interested.
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Handicap Accessible Van
2003 Dodge Caravan, 65,000 miles, great condition, asking $8500. Contact Anna at
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Handicap Accessible Van
2004 Rollx Town and Country Van
50,000 miles, champagne color, garage kept.
In Roselle
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Interested in getting
more involved with
SCIA?
Become a member of our association!
Are you Spinal Cord
injured?
Membership is
free to those who are
spinal cord injured.
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Meet Our Vice President Steve Burns
Steve Burns was spinal cord injured in 2009. The initial prognosis was bleak. He spent 14 weeks in inpatient rehab followed by months and months of outpatient therapy. Steve had great recovery and is able to walk, but he still participates in physical therapy to this day. This experience has given him an appreciation for the difficulties that people with SCI encounter every day.
Steve attends the "Lives in Motion" support group and became involved in peer mentoring. This led to a board position with the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois starting in 2013. Besides being on several committees Steve has represented the SCIA the last two summers at the "Roll on Capitol Hill" in Washington DC. The ROCH brings together advocates from around the country to meet with our representatives to push for legislation to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Steve and several good friends, can be seen and heard at the SCIA benefit,
It's Five o'clock Somewhere, on February 20th. Their Jah Moe Band is terrific.
Steve's commitment to serving on the SCIA Board and helping people who are paralyzed is extraordinary. He is also dedicated to his wife, Teri and daughters Gabi and Izzy. SCIA is blessed to have such a fine man on board!
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Congress Passes CRT Wheelchair Accessories Delay - a Win for United Spinal Association
December 18, 2015 was the last day before Congress adjourned for the year and United Spinal can happily report that Congress passed S. 2425, the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act. This bill includes a one year delay on reduced pricing under Medicare for complex rehab power wheelchair accessories.
United Spinal has always taken the lead on protecting access to durable medical equipment and medical supplies including customized wheelchairs and 2015 was no different. With a group effort from providers, manufacturers, consumers and clinicians, everyone worked hard to obtain this successful result.
While Congress did not pass everything United Spinal wanted, which was to get rid of reduced pricing entirely for complex rehab wheelchairs and accessories, this one year delay provides United Spinal with the opportunity in 2016 to continue to educate the Administration and Congress on the wheelchair accessories issue and in establishing needed improvements for CRT within Medicare and other health insurance programs on behalf of our members and the broader disability community.
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Depression and SCI
This information is from the
Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center
Depression is common and can affect anyone. About 1 in 20 Americans (over 11 million people) get depressed every year.
Depression is even more common in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population-about one in five people. Estimated rates of depression among people with SCI range from 11% to 37%.
What is depression? Depression is not just "feeling blue" or "down in the dumps." It is a serious medical disorder (just like diabetes, in which both biology and behavior can help or hurt). Depression is closely linked to your thoughts, feelings, physical health and daily activities. Depression affects both men and women. Depression can cause some or all of the following physical and psychological symptoms:
Changes in sleep (too much or too little)
Feeling down or hopeless
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
Changes in appetite
Diminished energy or activity
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Feelings of worthlessness or self-blame
Thoughts of death or suicide
Periods of sadness are normal after SCI. However, there is cause for concern when feeling depressed or losing interest in usual activities occurs almost daily and lasts for more than two weeks. Depression is not caused by personal weakness, laziness or lack of will power. Causes of depression Although we don't know for sure what causes depression, we do know that life stresses and medical problems can cause a change in certain brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters. This chemical imbalance is linked to changes in mood, enjoyment, sleep, energy, appetite and ability to concentrate.
To read more, visit page 7 at
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Spacitity and SCI - A Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center Article
SCI Model System Posts New Forum Video
The Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System (NWRSCIS) recently posted the new forum video, Spasticity and SCI, Part 2: Real Life Stories-A Panel Discussion. Spasticity is an almost universal complication of SCI, but the way it manifests itself varies from person to person. In this panel discussion, four individuals with SCI share their unique experiences with spasticity, treatments they have tried over the years, and strategies they use to manage spasticity. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Jeanne Hoffman, UW professor and clinical psychologist in the UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. View the forum video HERE. See NWRSCIS' complete list of SCI videos HERE.
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Scootaround DNA Program
Scootaround DNA includes:
Centralized Equipment Information
- DNA allows you to register any or all of your mobility equipment complete with make and model numbers, serial numbers, and other essential information. In the event of damage, warranty repair requirements, or other issues with your equipment you will have full and easy access to your information - even if you are far from home!
Simplified Airline Repair Claims
- If you travel with your equipment, DNA is for you! Scootaround handles repair claims for over 30 airlines worldwide - including North America's largest carriers. In the event of travel damage, a great deal of time and expense can be saved by simply providing the airline representative with your ENGAGE identifier when you notify them of damage or loss. Scootaround airline claims coordinators can then greatly speed up parts orders and assessments by having all the information on your equipment at their fingertips - resulting in faster repair and less inconvenience during your trip!
24/7 Access to your DNA Information
- The DNA interface is user-friendly and offers easy access anytime you need to view or change your profile. As long as you have an Internet connection, your equipment DNA is a click away.
Secure Information Storage
- All equipment information is stored with 128bit encryption in a secure location. No credit card numbers are required or stored.
Sign up today for Scootaround's DNA program and maximize your travel enjoyment and mobility in the coming year! Register here:
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Champaign Area Self-Help Center Spring Workshop:
Friday, April 15, 2016
Save the date! The Self-Help Center is pleased to announce its upcoming Spring Workshop, "Support Groups 101".
The workshop will take place on Friday, April 15, from 9:00 a.m. - noon at the University of Illinois Extension Office, located at 801 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign, IL, 61821. Additional details to follow soon!
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You Can Support SCIA, and it won't cost you a penny!
Are you an Amazon shopper? Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your purchases to Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois whenever you shop
AmazonSmile. Visit
www.smile.amazon.com/ch/36-3149036 and select SCIA as your charity of choice. Its easy and won't cost you a penny!
SCIA is a member of the Community Health Charities of Illinois and the Combined Federal Campaign, an employee giving program. Campaigns are currently going on, so ask anyone you know who works for the federal government, including your mail carrier or anyone in the military, to consider designating SCIA as the recipient of their contributions. Our ID number for federal government employees is 48552.
Remember SCIA when making any memorial contributions or honoring birthdays, weddings, graduations, or other special occasions.
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SportsAbilities
SportsAbilities is all about getting relevant information to people with disabilities whether that means access to resources, events to help people stay active, or news articles. There national calendar has events from all over the country but you can find out about specific events in your area by visiting the website and clicking on your state under the calendars tab.
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RIC Adaptive Sports Program
The RIC Adaptive Sports Program offers eleven different sports programs. They offer Archery, Boccia, Cycling/Road Racing, Wheelchair Basketball, Golf, Sled Hockey, Wheelchair Softball, Wheelchair Rugby, Military Sports Program, Caring for Kids, Junior Competitive Sports and Rock Climbing.
These programs are open to anyone with a disability.
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SCI Support Groups:
For those who are injured and their families. The more the merrier!
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Advocate Christ Medical Center
4440 W. 95th Street
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Group resumes in March 2016
Rehab Gym - Room 026S Ground Floor
Contact Mercedes Rauen at SCIA
Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hosptial
26W171 Roosevelt Road
3rd Floor Gym
Wheaton, IL 60187
Group resumes in February 2016
Contact Monica Blaauw for meeting dates and locations
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Homewood
1055 W. 175th Street, Homewood, IL 60430
Meets 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm
Contact Mike Thompson at fishin67@gmail,com
or
Brenda Canning at 312-238-1137
SCI Support Group Rockford IL
Van Matre Rehab Hospital
950 S. Mulford Road
Rockford, IL 61108
Outpatient Gym
Meets the second Wednesday of each month @ 6:00pm
Decatur Area Group!!
S.C.I.P Support Group
Heartland Health Care Center
444 W. Harrison Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
217-419-8855
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Hope Clinic Support Group
3137 Woodward St
Springfield, IL
Contact Christie Davis for more information
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SCIA Board of Directors
President
Monica Blaauw
Vice President Treasurer
Steve Burns Pat Genardo
Directors
Stacy Berendt
William Bogden
Lori Bravi
Michael Cafferty, J.D.
Christin Falco
Colleen Glucksmann
Beth Gorman
Nupur Hajela. Ph.D.
Joseph Holloran
Ray Lee, M.D.
Ken Lumb, J.D.
Sarah Milcarek
Patricia Mucia
Chirag Shah, M.D.
Medical/Scientific Advisory Board
Roy Adair, M.D.
William Adair, M.D.
David Chen, M.D.
Michelle Gittler, M.D.
Jeffrey Oken, M.D.
Lawrence Vogel, M.D.
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The SCIA newsletter is an informational resource only. SCIA neither endorses nor recommends services provided by any of the sources listed therein.
SCIA Newsletter edited by Kimberly Houston.
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