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Cinco de Mayo Run, Walk & Roll is Back!

Welcome to the Board, Stephen Mackintosh! 

Join me in welcoming one of our newest board members, Stephen Mackintosh. We are thrilled to have welcomed Stephen onto our board this past December. Here is a little of his story and motivation for partnering with us in our mission: 
 
"Hello, my name is Stephen Mackintosh. Recently, I joined the Neuro Assistance Foundation Board to help the organization fulfill its mission of "Helping Today For Independence Tomorrow".
 
The reason I joined dates back to May 2017, when I visited Neuro's Cinco de Mayo fundraising event. The reason I visited was twofold. First to meet Cindi Cooperman and learn about the Neuro Assistance Foundation, which I had heard about from Joy Hetrick, who was my caregiver at the time. Secondly, to meet Mike and Sharyn King, as well as Ben Hetrick, to learn more about Powered to Move and their nonprofit organization that involves hand cycling for persons with disabilities.
It was coincidental, that at the same time as this event, I was researching recumbent bicycles to fulfill my mission of gaining independence for myself and my family.
Winding the clock back to July 2012, I was involved in a tragic bicycle accident that left me as a C4 incomplete quadriplegic. From that moment on, myself and my family experienced and struggled with all the problems that NAF strives to solve. Fortunately, my family and I had made significant progress towards independence, and were working on our next adventure in independence, namely to ride a recumbent bike.
So there I was with my wife, at the Cinco de Mayo event among the energy and excitement of families experiencing the joy of being part of the community. They were interacting and connecting with others. I saw their stories, understood their stories, was living their stories firsthand. My wife, and me with my chin drive power wheelchair, mingled and enjoyed the energy. There I saw and experienced, the actualization of NAF real-time. Children and families affected by neurological trauma, out and about... Running, walking, pushing, pulling, sharing and caring together.
Meeting Cindi, Joy and her husband Ben as well as Mike and Sharyn King, set wheels in motion. How can I help this organization accomplish its mission.
We too had to leave the hospital and go home and deal with gaining independence for ourselves and the family. It all started with a ramp. Seemingly so insignificant, however that ramp was the beginning of going home. And to this day that same ramp allows us to leave home to connect with the world that we missed so dearly.
So here I am on the board. And there you are in the community. Why not join Cindi and the rest of us fulfill the NAF mission? It was 176 yesterday, why not 1760 tomorrow?
Thank you and see you in the community". 
 
- Stephen Mackintosh 
Spina Bifida
The Work of Cincinnati's Fetal Center


Many of our clients are individuals born with Spina Bifida. This is a condition in which a child's spinal cord develop's outside of the body. Cincinnati's Fetal Center recently released an animation of a procedure they use during pregnancy to correct the malformation. This is an amazing procedure, which allows the surgeon to place the spinal cord back into the child's body and continue gestation. Absolutely amazing and innovative work! 

To view this video yourself, visit  youtube.com
#SayTheWord

A movement has begun on social media called #SayTheWord, which calls society to embrace a disability identity. A publication from Vanderbilt University shows the consequences of using substitute vocabulary that work to diminish the disability. Such terms include "differently-abled, physically challenged, special needs". 

Researchers believe that "Erasing the term disability from the collective vocabulary is misguided and has harmful sociocultural implications".

What are your thoughts about this movement? As someone living with a disability, do you embrace that as part of your identity? As a friend, colleague, or family member of someone living with a disability, how do you embrace disabilities? I would love to hear from you! Email me at joy@neuroassistance.org with your thoughts!

Read the entire article at news.vanderbilt.edu

Cooking From A Wheelchair


Do you love to cook? But find it challenging to cook in your kitchen from your wheelchair? Well, we have some good news for you! One of the beauties of technology is the ability it gives us to share valuable information with people all around the globe, at any given time, on any given subject! Many wheelchair users are making use of this tool to share with others how they cook from their wheelchairs. 

Spinalcord.com has compiled an assortment of videos that allow us to see how others are navigating their kitchens. Check out the videos  on their website to see what tips and tricks you can pick up! 


Introducing You to Our Clients
Meet Miss Willie....

Photo of Miss Willie, her daughter Pat and sweet dog Rudolph.

Miss Willie's family asked NAF for help finding a handicapped van after she became paralyzed from a lumbar puncture a few years ago. After waiting several years on 
our donated van list, Miss Willie finally got to the top and was a recipient of a donated van that was given to NAF in January. When asked where was the first place she'd go, Miss Willie said, "Walmart". Her daughter, Pat, said, "Momma we thought you might like to go out to eat since you've been unable to get out for so long". Miss Willie answered, "Maybe after Walmart".

Pat says that Miss Willie is enjoying going to church the most. Welcome to the family, Miss Willie.
Meet Joe....




Joe, 26, sustained a traumatic L1 spinal cord injury along with multiple fractures and his case manager contacted NAF to make his home more accessible. We provided multiple ramps for front and rear entrances to make sure Joe had a safe and easy way in and out of his home. He is pictured her with his mother, Cindy. It was a pleasure to get to know Joe's family and to help them through this stressful time. 
THANK YOU To All of Our Cinco de Mayo Sponsors! 
Come see them at the race!

We could not serve our clients without your unwavering support. Thank you for all of your support! 














We Need Your Help

Donate ~ Sponsor ~ Volunteer

Your $25 donation will help provide clean catheters to a paralyzed child for one month when their insurance won't cover the expense.

Your $100 donation will help build a wheelchair ramp so we can get our clients out of rehab and through their front door at home.

Your $200 donation will help widen the doorways in their homes so their wheelchair can fit through the bathroom door. Insurance doesn't covers home modifications.

Your $500 donation will help provide life-changing medical equipment: wheelchairs and specialized shower chairs, etc. Most insurance only covers a small part of wheelchairs, if any, and no "bathing aids" are covered. 

No donation is too small. Click here for more information. 
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