Community News
Wishing You the Happiest of Holidays
Greetings!

The joys of traveling during the holidays, does it get any better? It certainly raises stress levels that can already be high during the holidays. Now add to that, traveling with a custom wheelchair and sometimes other adaptive equipment, now we're talking some serious stress.

So what can we do to minimize the stress and arrive at our destination with everything intact? We take charge of the situation, who knows better that us, we know our equipment and the important role it plays in our lives. Make the handlers aware of the cost of our custom equipment...in a nice way so they are aware of the financial impact should it be damaged. Be friendly when conversing with all that are trying to help, if you can establish a connection with them, they will look at your equipment in a more personal way.

Plan ahead, make a checklist, every little detail that can be taken care of prior to the day of travel, is one less thing that just may be forgotten. So depending on the mode of travel here are a few helpful tips:

  • have your boarding pass sent to your phone
  • leave early enough not to sweat the small stuff
  • travel light enough not to have to check any bags, unless traveling through the airport with a bag is a hardship (I personally check my bag(s)
  • proceed directly to and through security, look for that sign that allows a disabled traveler to skip ahead of the line
  • arrive at the gate on time and at ease
  • and nail your connections, if you are short on connection time make the flight attendants aware, they can sometimes assist in getting you off the plane sooner or at least contacting the connecting gate …

… so who knows, you might actually enjoy traveling this season!


Sincerely,

Rick Hayden
Executive Director
Check Out Our Trusted Resource Directory
Please take a few minutes to check out our Trusted Resource Directory, a place where you will find product and services from companies that we trust, and who are committed to improving the quality of life for our community.
Giving Tuesday
Join with us during this special time of giving, your gift will allow Spinal Network to continue providing services and resources to our community. Our goal for 2020 is to expand our services and programs, please be a part of our community. Our Giving Tuesday campaign will run until December 24th. Thank you.
Thrive Worldwide 2019 is Tomorrow, Come Join Us
Last year to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we celebrated #ThriveWorldwide 2018 at Sharp Rehab with 25 incredible people.

This year on December 3rd, we will once again gather at Sharp Rehab to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by celebrating #ThriveWorldwide 2019. Instead of a guest speaker, we are going to have a few of our members share their life's journey followed by a time for questions. Of course we will also have food, no event is complete without it.

We will be raffling off an Echo Dot and wifi light bulb, someone will start or add to a hands free home environment.
Unite 4 CRT
You will find additional information and the links to send an email and/or make the call below in the Complex Rehabilitation Technology Legislation Update.
Half Day Employment Preparedness Workshop Coming in February
Here's what I can tell you right now, the presenting agencies are locked in, the remaining information that we are currently working on will be highlighted in our January newsletter, on our website and social media. So, what agencies will be presenting at the workshop? Here you go:

  • Michael Kojis with the Social Security Administration
  • Aleyda Toruno with Disability Rights California
  • Leah Schicker with the Department of Rehabilitation
  • Rusty Krumm with Workability III
  • Warren "Bill" White with Spinal Network

A powerful lineup sharing programs and information to assist one as they begin their journey to independence. Whether it's college and then employment or right into employment, those nagging questions about going back to work will be answered. Knowledge is power and having that knowledge will give you the power to succeed.
New San Diego East County Support Group
Jim Weber started the East County SCI/D Peer Support Group in April 2019 with the goal of bringing people with spinal cord injuries and diagnoses (SCI/D) from San Diego’s East County together. The group meets the 1st Saturday of every month at 12pm in the food court at Parkway Plaza.

Jim knows that through peer support, mentoring and networking, people will learn from each other, foster independence, and help those with new injuries and diagnoses ease back into being in a public setting. Getting through the social anxieties of being in public after their spinal cord injury can be a major step in resuming life in the real world. We also want to provide a safe place to socialize with their peers and to make new friends and build self-esteem.

Each month we get together for what is supposed to be 2 hours of casual chit chat, but sometimes turns into 3 or 4 hours because we are enjoying the comradery, learning about each other and our injuries and supporting one another with our experience and knowledge. 
Looking for a Certified Peer Mentor?
Spinal Network has eleven certified peer mentors available to meet, listen, share their experiences as well as sharing resources and services. Whether your newly injured/diagnosed or you've been wheeling this earth for a while, or maybe your a friend, family member or rehab professional, reach out, we're here for you.
Complex Rehabilitation Technology Legislation Update
This is so very important, especially if you are a manual wheelchair user or a rehab professional. If we can't get this passed by year end, those critical components for your chair will not be paid for. The time to act is NOW! Critical components are those options that are not included in the price of the base chair as well as cushions and positioning backs.

There are two parts to this, each equally important to people who are using custom manual wheelchairs for their mobility.

H.R. 2293 and S.1223 will stop Medicare from applying Competitive Bid payment rates to critical components (accessories) of Complex Rehab Manual Wheelchairs and will permanently exempt Complex Rehab Wheelchair systems from the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program.    Contact your Members   of Congress today and ask them to cosponsor the bill and push for passage!

Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) needs to be separately recognized in order to improve and protect access for people who rely on this unique equipment for their medical and functional needs. H.R. 2408 was introduced in the House of Representatives to create a separate category within the existing Medicare program.    Contact your Members of Congress today and ask them to cosponsor the bill and push for passage! 

Don't be intimidated by the thought of contacting your member of Congress and your Representatives, after all they work for you. Click on the link, the template is there and all you have to do is to provide your name and contact information. I can't stress enough the importance of taking action.
Interested in a U-Jam Adaptive Dance Fitness Program?
Our very own Ania Flatau, certified World of Dance (WOD) U-Jam Fitness Instructor is finalizing her plans for an adaptive WOD U-Jam fitness dance program. It will be held weekly at the Mission Valley YMCA and is a free program. This program is a collaborative effort between Spinal Network and the YMCA. If interested in getting on the list to be notified when the program starts, click below to send an email.
Disability and Depression
When you get hurt and suffer a Spinal Cord Injury, you suddenly find yourself in a new world where it feels like you have no control over anything. You’ve joined a “club” you may have known about, but never expected to be a member of. All manner of thoughts and feelings may be taking turns occupying your brain. Some form of depression is a very normal reaction at some point in the adjustment process. Some people, amazingly, avoid it completely. “It is what it is, I have no choice but to move on, no point in allowing myself to dwell on it, get depressed, etc.” Not many escape some level of sadness, however, but acknowledging it is difficult. Your body has just changed in ways you never dreamed of, so the last thing you want to think is that your mind is messed up too. If depression sets in, don’t ignore it, don’t withdraw, do something to change it.   

Typical symptoms of depression include feeling sad, low energy, trouble sleeping, weight loss or gain, suicidal thoughts, loss of interest, moodiness, and loss of concentration. People are amazingly resilient and usually the depression lifts. There are ways to accelerate the process of adjustment:

  • Put one foot (wheel!) in front of the other and force yourself to do the things that you know usually are enjoyable.
  • Talk with someone outside your usual circle (we often don’t want to burden family or close friends) with whom you can safely say, “This is really hard!”
  • Get with other folks with SCI in a support group or socially.
  • Get out of the house and socialize, exercise, get into disabled sports, make plans to get back in school or take some classes in something you were always interested in but never got around to.
  • Start thinking about what employment would look like.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis, please call the Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240. Trained and experienced counselors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to provide support, referrals, and crisis intervention.

Richard Green, LCSW Sharp Rehabilitation Hospital, San Diego
Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Wildomar
Here we come, we want to start a support group here in the Murrieta/Temecula/Wildomar/ Menifee/Lake Elsinore area. If your interested click the link below, I'll send you more information. We will plan our first Meet Up for January 11th, this is a tentative date so look to the January newsletter for the date, time and location.
Upcoming Events
Men's SCI Support Group at Sharp Rehab in San Diego on the third Monday of every month, 4 - 5:30
East County SCI/D Support Group at Parkway Plaza Food Court in El Cajon on the first Saturday of every month, 12 - 2
December 3rd - Thrive Worldwide 2019 will be held at Sharp Rehab 11 - 1
December 10th - Meet & Greet at Sharp Rehab in San Diego from 11:30 - 1
January 11th - Meet & Greet in Murrieta,
February 2020 - Half Day Employment Preparedness Workshop, details coming soon
May 2020 - Picnic in the Park, a fund day for all, food and activities, vendors
October 3, 2020 - SCI/D Rehab Professional Workshop, details coming soon
Spinal Network
a chapter of the United Spinal Association
 
Tel: 951-775-2561
Purcell International Group