What's Happening: [8th Annual Push Forward Conference]

Description: [Join the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association on Friday, October 6th, 2023 for our 8th Annual Push Forward Educational Conference, an all-day interactive conference for individuals with spinal cord injuries, family members, caregivers, students, and professionals. The conference is FREE to attend for consumers and one family member/caregiver. For additional family members, students, and professionals to attend, it is $40.]

When: [Friday, October 6th, 2023]

Where: [Desert Willow Conference Center]

Cost: [FREE for consumers and one family member/caregiver and $40 for additional family members, students, and professionals]

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors!

Join us for our Meditation & Movement Virtual Class!

Next Classes:

October 4th & Sep 18th at 11 am



Where: Via Zoom Call

The intent of the class is to exercise and develop greater self-awareness and inner mastery. With the utilization of mindful and meditation exercises, people have the opportunity to experience greater self-knowledge, resiliency, and positive habit-forming exercises. Come for the experience. Stay for the FUN!

Sign up @ : www.ability360.org/sports/class-schedule/

Virtual Class Link:

Virtual Meditation and Movement Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87199163237?pwd=WUlLWHFjYXlTa2tNQ3J2MXYzc1NoZz09&from=addon

Meeting ID: 871 9916 3237

Passcode: 764454

Camp With a Ramp 2023 is a wrap!

   An amazing weekend was had by all at the 5th annual Neuro and Brain Community Foundation nonprofit DBA, "Camp With a Ramp". The weather was perfect for wheeling around the grounds of Whispering Hope Ranch up on the Mogollon Rim, east of Payson. The weekend would not have been possible without the amazing sponsors, all volunteer planning committee, volunteers who helped campers with ADL's, the nurses, and the staff at WHR. THANK YOU!

This year's camp was blessed with the help of many for profits and 4 other nonprofits/community partners who assisted the entire weekend including AZSCIA (AZ Spinal Cord Injury Association), HCAS ( High Country Adaptive Sports), Ability360 Sports and Fitness, and SAAS (Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports). THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Campers enjoyed fishing, sunrise hikes up on the rim, basketball, pickle ball, archery, bocce ball, arts and crafts, discussion groups, animal interaction with the animals that live on the ranch, adaptive mountain biking, adaptive kayaking, horseback riding, and more.

Community lunch speakers spoke about other leisure and adaptive recreation involvement in the Valley and beyond. Each evening had different forms of entertainment:

-On Thursday night, we sat around the campfire, ate s’mores, and visited with friends both new and old.

-On Friday night an astrology group brought up telescopes for everyone to gaze at the planets and stars. The sky was perfect to see the Milky Way crystal clear, Saturn, Jupiter and millions of stars. Some sang and danced Karaoke.

-On Saturday night was Casino Night -played for fun and on Sunday morning, we packed up and headed home. It's always sad to leave but happy everyone had a great time. Great connections were made, especially for first-time campers. Everyone said they can't wait to return. Many commented they wanted to have camp longer!

Start saving your pennies! See you all next year! CampWithARamp.Org

Here are some of the comments received on the survey:

    How did the retreat impact your life or how did you impact someone else's life?

• Appreciation for love and community
• I received so much love and acceptance in my first year. I was able to share that love and acceptance with new folks. I continue to learn and get so much support here.
•  Reminded me of all the things I can do.
• This camp is so meaningful for me as it allows me to do things I otherwise couldn't , all because you have volunteers to help me. Thanks
• Made new friends
• It inspired me to join a sport
• I love to show people what’s possible. Ability360 is so stoked to be part of this whole camp!
• Impact: Solidify and gain relationships
• Meeting new friends
• I saw a grown man cry
• More comradery than I get daily, more activities daily. Hope I enlightened people
• Helped me connect with others
• I tried new things and met more friends
• I found new friends. I am going to learn more sports!
• Making new friends and connecting with others
• Changed it completely!
• Met great new friends!
• Able to make new connections/resources and learn about new adaptive things for future patients
• Helped people try new things
• Brings joy
• Camp reminds me of all the things I love about people
• Felt good trying new things and meeting new campers
• Loved being able to watch people enjoying new things
• Sharing knowledge and experiences
• Meeting new people and sharing stories/learning
• Keeps us involved in the Phoenix community
• It always make me feel more
• Gave me better sense of community
• Try everything you can
• Educational
• It helped me practice being on schedule
• Helps teach new sports
• My girl loved everything- so did I!
• Changed my mind on adaptability
• This camp always makes me real welcome and part of a family
• Great to see old faces still attending. Great to share with new campers and show them the ropes.
• I was able to participate in activities w/my sister that she otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.
• Bettered my instructor skills
• Connecting with peers

   What knowledge did you gain from camp, which will help improve your quality of life?

•  I learned how to ride the bikes, and although it was very difficult for my central nervous system. I persisted until I found a way to make it work for me.
• How to play wheelchair basketball
• Opened my eyes to more opportunities of things I can try
• I can do more than I think I can.
• Lots of resources
• Don’t give up!
• Adaptive bikes
• I found adaptive equipment I want to buy
• To be patient and enjoy the moment and people around
• I learned a lot about my bladder and bowel health
• I did more than I thought I could do!!!!
• That I need to get more active in my daily life…I was out of breath!
• How to bugle with elk!
• New info with catheter assist camper I camped with
• That people can do great things when they get together as a team
• How to interact with people who have more service TBI.
• Be patient with everyone- we all have something going on in our lives
• More info about camp and its history
• That everyone has a disability at camp
• I learned that I have no limits
• Making me a part of community
• Gives me more motivation to keep being a better tech.
• Different adaptive sports
• Quit smoking
• Contacts
• Learned about innovative new approaches to bladder & bowel management
• Hand cycles aren’t as hard to use as I thought
• More awareness for me of more disabilities other than SCI
• Cathing and bowel care-super!!
• I will practice being on schedule
• Try new things
• Shoulder strength is important
• New cathing strategy and Lots of things words can’t describe

That's How We Roll - SCI Support Group

This support group is based in Sedona, AZ. They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Come for support, camaraderie, and resources!

Flagstaff Spinal Cord Injury & Brain Injury Support Group

Please join us each month on the 1st Tuesday from 5:30 - 7:00 pm!

Primarily a Spinal Cord Injury group but includes MS and Traumatic Brain Injury clients as well since many of the adaptation, medical, equipment, needs, and socialization issues are pertinent to all.

The group meets in the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona at 1851 North Gemini Drive on McMillan Mesa in Flagstaff, 86001

In this webinar, experts share research, lived experience, and clinical practice with the perinatal mental health experiences of disabled people and recommended strategies to support their perinatal mental health outcomes. This webinar is accompanied by our Pregnancy, Disability, and Maternal Mental Health Fact Sheet.

This is the first in a 4-part webinar series: Delving Into Maternal Mental Health. This series is designed to explore four different experiences mothers and birthing people face and their intersection with maternal mental health. Learn more about this series.

The Reeve Foundation has created 'Outdoors for Everyone,' an initiative to ensure the great outdoors is accessible and inclusive for all people – including those living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers.

"Everyone of all abilities deserves to experience the great outdoors," says Mark Bogosian, Director of Engagement at the Reeve Foundation. "The Reeve Foundation's 'Outdoors for Everyone' initiative aims to address the preventable limitations for those impacted by paralysis. By working with parks and outdoor recreational organizations on ways to improve accessibility outdoors, we hope this will encourage those in the community and their caregivers to spend more time in nature."

Our highly trained Information Specialists are providing education about accessible parks, what to look for, and how to prepare for a journey into nature. The Foundation's Information Specialists are dedicated to helping anyone, from newly paralyzed individuals and their family members to persons who have lived with paralysis and mobility impairments long-term.

We've also created an 'Accessible Outdoor Checklist' for parks, recreation centers, and partners to ensure people living with paralysis and other disabilities are able to enjoy the outdoors, because public lands are for everyone regardless of ability. The checklist serves as an educational resource with recommendations and suggestions on how to strengthen accessibility and inclusivity throughout the entire outdoor experience.