National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC)

National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) is sponsored by Administration for Community Living (ACL). Provides resources and support for individuals living with paralysis, including information, peer support, and community-based resources.

Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) | ACL Administration for Community Living Support for people with paralysis, limb loss and TBI Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) National Paralysis Resource Center The mission of the National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) operated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, is to improve the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information, and advocacy.

The NPRC assists people as they navigate through the various stages of their recovery after the diagnosis of paralysis. Information Specialists are trained staff who help anyone — from newly paralyzed individuals and their family members to persons who have lived with paralysis and mobility impairments long-term. All of the NPRC’s educational materials are available at no cost.

These include a 410-page book, “Paralysis Resource Guide,” as well as over 300 fact sheets, wallet cards, videos and patient education booklets.

The breadth and depth of the NPRC’s knowledge and connections span multiple languages with resources on what to expect in rehab, programs and services for people living with paralysis local to one’s geographic location ( Resource Map ), peer support networks and a variety of services, communities, and programs, including: Quality of Life Grants Program for non-profit organizations’ programs and projects geared towards fostering inclusion, involvement, and community engagement, while promoting health and wellness for those impacted by paralysis.

Peer & Family Support Program , which fosters peer-to-peer support, via trained and certified mentors. Advocacy/Policy initiatives designed to not only help individuals advocate for themselves, but also to advance important issues for the greater community of individuals with paralysis.

Military & Veterans Program , designed to support the unique needs of current service members as well as veterans, regardless of when they served or how their injury was obtained. External evaluators from Vanderbilt University have been partners with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center since September 2016 to rigorously evaluate all of the NPRC’s programs, services, and materials.

A resource center with dedicated information specialists; a resource-rich website containing customized materials including fact sheets, Paralysis Resource Guide, and educational and health promotion videos, booklets and wallet cards, all available at no charge to the public.

The pulse of the NPRC is the information specialists who are trained to help anyone—from newly-paralyzed individuals and their family members to persons who have lived with disabilities for quite some time—as they attempt to navigate their changing world and the services available to them.

The Information Specialists pull from a wide array of information and expertise to devise personalized plans and approaches to getting individuals living with paralysis back into their communities and a place of well-being quickly.

A comprehensive outreach program dedicated to increasing the quality of life of individuals from underserved and minority communities including the African American, Native American, Hispanic, and Asian American populations.

Other underserved populations that the PRC assists include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, rural residents, people with limited or no English proficiency, those living in poverty, youth, seniors, the incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, individuals with substance abuse disorders, homeless individuals, those who are uninsured or underinsured, victims of abuse or crime, and people living with paralysis who have multiple co-occurring disabilities including psychiatric, emotional, or sensory disabilities.

Send a paralysis-related question or schedule a call online at ChristopherReeve. org/Ask or call 800-539-7309. The national Peer & Family Support Program provides certified trained peer mentors to assist individuals living with paralysis and related mobility impairments, their family members, and caregivers.

The free mentoring is offered to anyone seeking help. Peer mentors provide answers and support, and share what they have learned on their own paralysis journey. Caregivers of people living with paralysis also provide mentoring to fellow caregivers.

A national Quality of Life program that awards grants to paralysis-focused nonprofit, community-based organizations so that they may implement programs aimed at improving the health, wellness, and independence of people living with paralysis and other mobility impairments.

Funding categories include, but are not limited to, support efforts to transition people living with paralysis from nursing homes to community living, respite care/caregiving, assistive technology, employment, and programs that lessen social isolation due to COVID-19.

A Public Policy/Advocacy Program that provides outreach and education to elevate the voices of people living with paralysis and their families through education and outreach efforts in the areas of community-based long-term services and supports, enhanced family caregiver support, health insurance, and access to rehabilitation technologies.

The annual Reeve Summit: Where Care, Cure and Community Connect is an event that brings together hundreds of health professionals, advocates, community members and caregivers to brainstorm a future for people with disabilities defined by access, inclusion and innovation.

A Military & Veterans Program (MVP) to include resources and community connections for service men and women, as well as veterans living with paralysis, whether through combat-related, service-related, or non-service-related events. The PRC serves veterans and military personnel who served in any era. Learn about the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center: Spinal Cord Injury funded by ACL's NIDILRR.

See this webpage for information about the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act . Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation 636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A Paralysis Resource Center Regina Blye, Chief Program and Policy Officer Email: rblye@christopherreeve. org Email: Elizabeth.

leef@acl. hhs. gov Paralysis Resource Center Documents PRC Program Evaluation 2023 The documents below are part of a program evaluation that helps ACL better understand the diversity of activities undertaken by the NPRC and assess improvements in the lives of individuals living with paralysis.

The 2023 report describes (1) the outcome-focused findings from the first 2 years of data collection, which included conducting key informant interviews with NPRC staff and staff at other organizations that support people living with paralysis; (2) the performance monitoring reports submitted by the NPRC to ACL; (3) surveys of people living with paralysis and caregivers who participate in NPRC-sponsored programs (peer and family mentoring or a QOL grantee’s program); and (4) focus groups with peer and family 2023 NPRC Evaluation Report 2023 NPRC Evaluation Findings 2023 NPRC Evaluation Infographic PRC State Pilot Evaluation 2020 Administrative Survey and COVID-19 impact Paralysis Resource Center Evaluation: A Comparison of State and National Quality of Life Grant Programs The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) state grantees and their subawardees.

The documents below display responses from the four state pilots and 26 of their subawardees on the impacts as of May 2020. As the pandemic progressed, they have had to rethink how they will continue serving individuals with paralysis through inclusive and accessible activities.

PRC State Pilot COVID-19 Impact One-Pager PRC State Pilot Survey Infographic State of Pennsylvania Paralysis Resource Center November 4, 2020 -- PA State Pilot Reference Sheet August 28, 2019 -- The Dept.

of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , in collaboration with the Human Engineering Research Laboratories , was awarded a two-year cooperative agreement totaling $399,292 from the Administration on Community Living. The project establishes a Paralysis Resource Center State Pilot program in Pennsylvania.

The mission of the program is to improve the quality of life of Pennsylvanians of all ages living with paralysis and their caregivers by improving or increasing the services and supports offered by community-based disability organizations. The State of Pennsylvania Paralysis Resource Center will provide grants of up to $25,000 to nonprofit, community organizations serving people with paralysis and their caregivers in Pennsylvania.

Brad Dicianno, MD, who will lead the project, says that the program is meant to increase access or delivery of services to people living with paralysis; improve quality of life and community integration; and build partnerships among organizations within PA.

Several other faculty at the University of Pittsburgh (Rory Cooper, PhD; Michael Boninger, MD; Gina McKernan, PhD; Lynn Worobey, PhD, DPT; and Amy Wagner, MD) and Magee Rehabilitation (Marci Ruediger, PT, MS) will assist Dr. Dicianno in carrying out the program. IM ABLE Foundation 's mission is to remove obstacles that prevent people affected by disabilities from being physically active.

The organization will purchase adaptive mountain handcycles. The handcycles will have upgraded electronic assistance to accommodate people who do not have the necessary arm strength to ride on their own. With these adaptive mountain handcycles, they will be able to offer new opportunities to individuals with a wide range of adaptive needs.

The funds will also be used to cover maintenance and program costs. The organization expects to increase the total number of rides and riders per year and plans to add a shorter group ride once per week and a longer ride once or twice per month. IM Able Foundation is located in Eastern PA in Wyomissing.

The PRC funding supports an adaptive bicycle ride organized by the IM Able Foundation (Wyosmissing, PA): Harmarville Outreach Programs and Education (HOPE) Network is a non-profit community-based that provides education and adaptive sports and recreation programs and services to individuals with paralysis and their families, friends, and caregivers.

The Juniors Adaptive Sports and Recreation program is part of the HOPE Network Healthsports Program and provides education and adaptive sports and recreation programming geared to children of all ages. The funding will enable the purchase of pediatric sports wheelchairs that are specifically designed to meet the needs and sizes of different wheelchair basketball players.

The HOPE network expects that adding the new chairs will increase attendance and the number of new participants with paralysis and will improve fitness as measured by body fat analysis, strength, quickness and speed. The organization is located in western PA in Pittsburgh. Photos of wheelchair basketball: The Center for Independent Living of South Central Pennsylvania 's mission is to help individuals live life independently.

Funding will be used to carry out bi-monthly three-hour long sessions within the POWER (People, Opportunities, Wellness, Education and Resources) Program. They will invite individuals and their caregivers whose lives are affected by paralysis to participate in this program that offers appropriate physical exercise, as well as educational opportunities in a social recreational environment.

They anticipate an increase in attendance; improvements on health screenings; perception about general health, quality of life, and exercise; and participant satisfaction. They also expect to see reduced stress levels. The organization is located in south central PA in Altoona.

The Inglis Foundation 's mission is to enable people with disabilities – and those who care for them – to achieve their goals and live life to the fullest. Inglis’ oldest service is Inglis House, a 24/7/365 residential skilled nursing facility serving up to 252 younger adults (all wheelchair users) with paralysis-causing conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury.

Inglis will purchase and customize eight content modules of a mobile digital engagement technology application called Mozzaz for clients of Inglis Community Support Services (CSS). Mozzaz enables high-need, high-cost, complex care patients and their caregivers to use adapted information technology to directly engage with the services they are receiving. The content modules within the Mozzaz will support eight CSS programs.

They will measure the impact of the software on the number and quality of virtual visits, satisfaction with services, and comfort with the technology. Founded in 1877, Inglis Foundation is located in eastern PA in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports ' (PCAS) mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

This is achieved through a two-part approach. First, programs are designed specifically for people with disabilities that feature sports, recreation, wellness, and fitness education programs. Second, they work to provide inclusion in community and scholastic programs including sports, recreation, wellness, and fitness education programs.

The funding will allow acquisition of adaptive handcycle and ski equipment designed to facilitate the participation of people with paralysis. The equipment will expand their present capacity to be able to include those with some of the highest levels of impairment. They will measure the number of unique participants that will use the equipment, activity duration and frequency of equipment use, and satisfaction with the new equipment.

PCAS is located in eastern PA, in Philadelphia. The Fighting Back Scholarship Program (FBSP) was created in 1989 to assist individuals who had survived life-changing illnesses or injuries and who were without the finances needed to participate in a rehabilitative exercise program.

Recognizing that medical insurance usually runs out long before all rehabilitation needs are met, FBSP seeks to extend rehabilitation through individualized fitness programs and personal training. Fighting Back fitness training helps individuals develop and maintain mobility, strength, and increases confidence. It also provides a welcomed and necessary connection for individuals to a community and other people.

Funding will be used to provide additional scholarships to individuals who are living with paralysis. These scholarships consist of one-to-one fitness training in one of two Fighting Back locations. Individuals and their family members/caregivers are welcomed.

Sessions will be offered one time per week for over the course of a year (52 one-hour sessions). At the conclusion of the scholarship training period, individuals and their family/caregivers will be provided with specific recommendations for continued exercise at home or in the community. They expect to see improvements in the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Scale (WHOQOL BREF) in both participants and caregivers.

This organization is located in eastern PA in Malvern. The Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation will use funds to purchase supplies for their art therapy program. The therapy program will use drawing, painting, sculpture, clay modeling, and a variety of other creative outlets as an addition to existing care, to further promote successful rehabilitation of people with paralysis.

The Foundation expects the program to improve emotional and physical recovery. The Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation is located in Philadelphia, PA. The Pittsburgh Curling Club opened a brand-new curling facility in McKees Rocks, PA, that provides opportunities for people to participate in this unique Olympic sport.

They will use funds to support equipment and training to allow full inclusion. They anticipate increasing participation of people with paralysis and improvements in quality of life as a result of that participation. Disability Options Network is a grass roots advocacy organization concentrating on disability rights issues, as well as skills training, peer support, transitioning, and information and referral services.

They will expand wellness and fitness services to their location in New Castle, PA, and offer in-person and virtual fitness programs, support groups, and cooking classes to people with paralysis. They anticipate improvements in the ability of participants to reach specific fitness and wellness goals as a result of participation.

The AbleGamers Charity in Pittsburgh, PA, provides people with disabilities custom video gaming setups including modified controllers and special assistive technology. They will use funds to support a peer program that matches individuals with paralysis with the right technology and gaming networks and technology packages for inpatient spinal cord rehabilitation programs.

They expect to see improvements in quality of life in those who engage in their program. Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey operates therapeutic and competitive ice hockey programs for the benefit of individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania and adjacent areas. The funding from this award will be used to support equipment and programs so that people with paralysis can participate in this sport.

They expect improved skills and higher number of people with paralysis participating on the teams. The organization is located in Coraopolis, PA. The Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance in Philadelphia, PA, aims to improve health for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal.

They will use funding to provide medically tailored meals and nutrition education to individuals with paralysis with pressure injuries of the skin. They expect significant wound healing and improvements in a number of health outcomes.

Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council November 4, 2020 -- OH State Pilot Reference Sheet July 1, 2019 -- The Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council (Ohio SILC) was awarded a three-year cooperative agreement totaling $400,000 from the Administration for Community Living. The Emergency Preparedness Project is a Paralysis Resource Center State Pilot program.

The anticipated outcomes of this pilot include Ohioans with paralysis will increase their skills and knowledge of emergency/disaster preparedness, community-based organizations will have increased capacity to serve individuals with paralysis, and family and caregivers will become better equipped to support the individual with paralysis in an emergency/disaster situation.

November 1, 2019 -- Ohio SILC awarded three subgrants for Emergency Planning of up to $25,000 to community-based disability organizations to create opportunities for Ohioans with paralysis, and their family/support systems, to increase the education and development of skills needed to appropriately respond in the event of an emergency/disaster including preparation, response during and recovery in the aftermath.

The University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) has a vision that “all people, including children and adults living with disabilities, and their families, fully participate in society and live healthy, safe, self-determined, and productive lives.

” As part of their Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Project, UCCEDD will conduct two training sessions that will include preparedness assessments and education on how to evaluate personal circumstances that will assist individuals in identifying the tools necessary to develop an emergency preparedness plan.

In addition, UCCEDD will also facilitate two sessions in which emergency personnel and first responders will interact with individuals with disabilities and family members to facilitate learning and better understanding of needs during emergencies and disasters. Finally, UCCEDD plans to create a professionally developed training video that will be available online.

Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential’s (LEAP) project will serve individuals residing in the counties of Cuyahoga and Lorain. The project includes a three-part training program for persons with paralysis and their family member/caregiver. A fourth component is the opportunity to get involved at the community level.

The objective of this project is to provide 100 individuals with paralysis access to the resources needed to prepare adequately for situations of an emergency/disaster that could impact their continued community living; and to promote opportunities for meaningful participation in community level disaster planning for person with disabilities.

The Center for Disability Empowerment (CDE) serves individuals residing in the counties of Franklin, Delaware, Union and Licking. Their project includes a conference addressing Emergency and Disaster Readiness for individuals with Paralysis, their families and caregivers, with additional smaller seminars in each of their four served counties.

CDE will also engage with individuals after the trainings to answer questions and assist in personalized planning. Services for Independent Living (SIL) will develop a partnership through the County Boards of Developmental Disabilities and Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging to conduct meetings involving staff and consumers to gather input from Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga Counties for developing a guide for service plan development.

One of the goals is to be able to develop a professional training guide for case managers to enhance their skills for assisting persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness development. Another goal of the project is to develop worksheets for consumers to use when forming emergency preparedness plans including issues to consider when sheltering in place, evacuating the home, or moving to a temporary shelter.

Emergency Preparedness Projects The Ability Center of Greater Toledo (ACT) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Ottawa, Williams, Henry, and Defiance Counties from December 1, 2020, and ending on September 30, 2021, to provide emergency and disaster resources. The project has a focus on increasing the safety, security, and emergency preparedness of individuals with paralysis in their homes.

“Our project will ensure that individuals living with paralysis in Northwest Ohio community have access to the most current resources in the event of a disaster. These resources will include the development of a comprehensive Individualized Emergency Preparedness Plan (IDPP) along with a Personal Emergency Kit.

Our Project Team will also work with public agencies and community organizations to ensure that they have a plan in place so they can effectively support persons with disabilities in the event of a disaster.

” Several project objectives include to, “Develop emergency preparedness plans, Assemble and distribute emergency preparedness kits, provide emergency awareness training to public agencies, and connect individuals with paralysis to paralysis-related supports.

” The Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Clark, Greene, Montgomery, and Preble Counties from May 1, 2021, and ending on January 31, 2022. There are an estimated 140,000 people living in the Dayton area and of those people 14. 8% identify as having a disability and under the age of 65 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).

The Access Center’s project would target the members of our community with a paralysis disability and provide those individuals, caregivers, and families a toolbox of resources that would assist the individual in the event of an emergency or disaster. ACIL will host 10 workshops, each 1. 5 hours (Via Zoom or in person once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted).

The workshops will take place every two weeks and run the entirety of the grant period. Various disaster scenarios will be presented to facilitate a dialog among participants. Participants will share tips and best practices with the group.

ACIL will work with the local area emergency managers for the service area to facilitate a dialog on ensuring current and future planning will be inclusive of persons with paralysis by meeting with county/city emergency management personnel, providing information and education on the program ACIL is offering and offering to assist in current and future planning.

Ramp and Home Modification Projects In October 2020, an additional RFP was released that still maintained the objectives of the grant but utilized the funding in a way that applicants could create their own Ramp and Minor Home Modification program for persons with paralysis and their caregivers. The additional project RFP resulted in 3 organizations being awarded December 1, 2020.

Applicants developed a process to distribute Home Modification funds to persons with paralysis within their community. These home modifications are identified as a specific need this person has to be able to safely maneuver within their home and exit their home in case of an emergency and reduce barriers to access emergency services. In May 2021, a second cohort was awarded with three organizations.

The project organizations are listed below. Center for Independent Living Options, Inc. (CILO) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Hamilton, Clermont, Warren, Butler, Brown, Clinton, Highland, and Adams Counties from December 1, 2020, extended through August 2, 2021. Ramps and home modifications will be completed through a partnership with a local non-profit agency that provides critical home repairs and services.

CILO will provide the support and education to the consumer and their family member and/or caregiver to assure they understand how to adequately navigate their residence in the event of an emergency or disaster and reduce any barriers in their residence that could prevent emergency services access. By the end of the project, CILO will have assisted five or more individuals with paralysis with modification projects.

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo (ACT) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Ottawa, Williams, Henry, and Defiance Counties from December 1, 2020, and extended through November 30, 2021. Specific Outcomes: By the end of the project, ACT will have assisted eight or more individuals with paralysis with home modification projects designed to increase accessibility and personal safety.

Long-Term Outcomes: 60 percent or more of project participants will report increased feelings of safety six months or more after project completion. Alignment of Goals and Outcomes: Short and long-term outcome focus on increased safety, which is also the focal point of our project goal.

Services for Independent Living (SIL) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lake Counties from December 1, 2020, extended through August 2, 2021. SIL anticipates being able to serve between 15-35 people, depending on the nature of the home modification requested.

SIL recognizes the value of focusing on emergency and disaster preparedness of individuals who live with paralysis and plans to provide educational training to all program participants who seek home modifications The Center for Disability Empowerment (CDE) ($30,000) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Franklin, Delaware, Union, and Licking Counties from May 1, 2021, to October 31, 2021.

CDE is committed to the prevention and diversion of individuals with disabilities from unnecessary institutionalization in nursing facilities. The intention of this project is to target individuals who are at risk for such placement or who desire to leave such settings by providing funds for home modifications which are necessary for living in the community of one’s choice.

Also, to assist those who are at risk due to potential, or existing emergency circumstances. CDE anticipates being able to install 10-15 home modifications and 7-10 aluminum ramp installations. Tri-County Independent Living Center, Inc. ($20,000) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Portage, Stark, Summit, and Wayne Counties from May 1, 2021, to October 31, 2021.

The number one objective is assisting individuals to obtain accessible, affordable, and safe housing. Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL) ($28,000) project will serve individuals with paralysis residing in Clark, Greene, Montgomery, and Preble Counties from May 1, 2021, through October 31, 2021.

Objective 1: Have a minimum of 35 individuals receive information about the ramp and minor home modification program and apply for funding. Objective 2: Provide funding assistance to minimum of 25 individuals with paralysis to modify their homes to increase their ability to maneuver and/or safely exit and to decrease institutionalization risk during an emergency/disaster.

University of Kentucky Human Development Institute Receives Grant to Help Serve Individuals with Paralysis November 4, 2020 -- KY State Pilot Reference Sheet September 2020 -- The “Staying Apart Together” virtual event was hosted by the Wellness Edge grant on September 16, 2020.

Wellness Edge aims to increase the quality of engagement for individuals with paralysis and their support networks, (including caregivers, family, and friends) in recreational settings, and thereby improve health outcomes of not only the individual, but also their support network, by building capacity of local communities to enhance and facilitate access to recreational programs so they might effectively serve individuals with paralysis and their support networks.

The grant is funded by the Administration on Community Living (ACL). The project is housed at the Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky. The event was broken down into sections as follows: Introduction by Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Warm-up activity by Jason Jones, Adaptive Golf by Vickie Links, Health Activity by Lindsey Mullis, and Adapted Sports by Judy Morrison and Jeff McGinnis.

With many people in isolation due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, this virtual event was organized to create a platform that could reach people and provide ideas, resources, and activities that could be accessed from home. Interspersed between each activity was quick group interacting polling. A total of 25 participants responded to the survey.

All participants indicated they had watched the event through zoom. View the evaluation report for this virtual event . July 2020 -- The “Staying Apart Together” virtual event was hosted by the Wellness Edge grant on June 18th, 2020.

Wellness Edge aims to increase the quality of engagement for individuals with paralysis and their support networks, including caregivers, family, and friends in recreational settings, and thereby improve health outcomes of not only the individual but also his or her support network by building capacity of local communities to enhance and facilitate access to recreational programs, so they might effectively serve individuals with paralysis and their support networks.

The grant is funded by the Administration on Community Living (ACL). The project is housed at the Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky.

With many people in isolation due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, this virtual event was organized to create a platform that could reach people and provide ideas, resources, and activities that could be accessed from home – with agenda items including CrossFit, social distancing in parks, and health check-ins. Interspersed between each activity was quick group interacting polling.

A total of 421 individuals registered for the event through Zoom and YouTube Live. Individuals who attended the virtual event were asked to participate in a short evaluation.

74 individuals responded to the evaluation, with 13 respondents identifying that they had a disability, 9 respondents identifying that they were a family member or caregiver or a person with a disability, 69 respondents identifying that they were another type of professional (such as a paraprofessional, classroom student, state partner, community partner, or other), 4 respondents identifying that they had paralysis, and 12 respondents identifying that they were part of a support network.

Respondents could identify as belonging to more than one group. This report is organized into six sections: Section 1: Overall, Section 2: Individuals with Disabilities, Section 3: Family Members, Section 4: Other Professionals, Section 5: Individuals with Paralysis, and Section 6: Support Networks. There is also an appendix which includes all qualitative responses submitted by respondents.

View the evaluation report for this virtual event . May 2020 -- The ‘Staying Apart Together’ virtual event was hosted by the Wellness Edge grant.

Wellness Edge aims to increase the quality of engagement for individuals with paralysis and their support networks, including caregivers, family, and friends in recreational settings, and thereby improve health outcomes of not only the individual but also his or her support network by building capacity of local communities to enhance and facilitate access to recreational programs, so they might effectively serve individuals with paralysis and their support networks.

The grant is funded by the Administration on Community Living (ACL). The project is housed at the Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky. With many people in isolation due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, this virtual event was organized to create a platform that could reach people and provide ideas, resources, and activities that could be accessed from home, in an interactive environment with other attendees.

The virtual event agenda was as follows – introduction by Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones (Executive Director, Human Development Institute) and Ms. Elizabeth Leef (ACL, grant project officer), Zumba, Yoga, Virtual Arts, Virtual Peer Meetings, and Instructions to Google Hangouts. Interspersed between each activity