North Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association (NCSCIA)

Free well disinfection and well water collection kits are available through NCDHHS. Local health depts will distribute the kits for homes with private wells that were flooded or damaged by Helene.

Learn more https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2024/10/22/ncdhhs-provides-free-well-disinfection-well-water-collection-kits-communities-impacted-hurricane

Register for a FREE StrongWheeled Together Conference webinar by the United Spinal Association on October 23rd from 3-5pm EST! "Innovations and Insights for Booking Accessible Travel" will be a panel discussion highlighting the importance of accessible travel and address barriers faced by travelers with disabilities.

Each speaker will share their efforts to make the travel experience more accessible. Panelists include Enzo Piscopo, CEO of United Spinal, Josh Basile, Esq. and C4-5 quadriplegic, United Airlines and Airbnb. All attendees have a chance to win a United Airlines voucher, a Spotsaver accessible parking device and a Permobil seat cushion.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WWRoqmp2RYmj05z5b4F8Zg

Employment opportunities are a ‘key to freedom’ for wheelchair users Wheelchair users who work in various industries reflect on their employment journeys and share advice.

I am late posting pictures, thanks, and deep, deep gratitude from our annual fundraiser at the Angus Barn Pavilions Thursday night. NCSCIA’s offices are located in the triangle area but I am based in Asheville so you can imagine why these photos have been a little slow in coming. This year’s fundraiser gave me a welcome respite of electricity, running water and the chance to interact with people in a way that felt welcoming and “normal”(apologies to all those that I trauma dumped on and thank you for listening and caring) after two weeks of anything but normal.

So with that, it is with a happy, tearful, grateful heart that I offer immense thanks to all of our attendees, sponsors, donors, and volunteers for the $26,000 we raised for our Fund a Need program. This year’s Fund a Need will support members of the WNC SCI community affected by Helene. This is in addition to the generous amount money you helped us raise to support our existing programming and outreach. None of this would be possible without your support and without the amazing committee that organizes this event and our fearless leader, Debbie Myers.

We couldn’t be more grateful and we will continue to update you as we work with our community partners to map out a plan to get these funds efficiently and effectively into the hands of our affected community members. ❤️

Join Us for a Lunch-N-Learn Webinar!

We’re excited to share important information about ABLE Accounts for people with disabilities.

Date: October 18, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Register here: https://buff.ly/46Oh0At

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about tax-advantaged savings accounts that allow people with disabilities to save and invest money for disability-related expenses (known as Qualified Disability Expenses, or QDEs) without losing eligibility for certain means-tested public benefit programs.

We can’t wait to see you!

IMAGE: Flyer promoting our new Lunch-N-Learn webinar series. The photo features the NC Able logo, with all event details included in the caption.

Day in the Life series features wheelchair users with unique jobs New Mobility's Day in the Life series showcases wheelchair users with unique jobs. Here are a few of our favorites.

Waypoint Adventure reached out and shared with DRNC that they can help people with disabilities in WNC with wheelchair van, off-road wheelchairs and trained teams. Please see contact information below to get in touch.

Text reads: Attention

We have a team ready to make sure our disability community has access to the resources and assistance they need. We have:

Wheelchair van: Wheelchair lift ready to help people get to doctors' appointments, see loved ones etc.

Supply deliver: 4x4 truck, ATV as well as backpackers and supplies.

Off road wheelchairs to support any body type and help people and supplies get into or out of precarious places.

Tree clearing and minor construction services to get houses covered before weather sets in.

Trained staff in disability, Wilderness First Aid, First Responder Certified and a Nurse.

Call 781-325-7980 ext 182

Check out an amazing opportunity to virtually volunteer for a research study on SCI and Exercise with Drexel University. ..Added bonus- our very own peer mentor Katie Samson will be serving as an advisor!

See attached flyer for more information, including participation commitments and compensation. Don’t miss your chance, registration closes next week!

Link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclfuGorjgrH9PxdR8Vk2ZxLzq36pVY_TdO?fbclid=IwY2xjawFNc7RleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRDtVMhuov0AP_3RVsokXaR8OIXll0ZGXGIGfgpSuZrNZ6VsFsOBYvio3g_aem_Uh08rDx-kJsSEp4s8SKqQw #/registration

NCSCIA's Day to Connect is coming up this weekend. Tomorrow is the last day to RSVP at www.ncscia.org so please join us for an adaptive fashion show, adaptive car show, vendor tables and raffle prizes! More details in photos

From ‘Roughing It’ to Glamping: Adaptive Camping for Wheelchair Users As the first rays of dawn illuminate the inside of my tent, the chirping of birds complements the wind whispering through the forest. The air smells of the ocean and redwood trees. I’ve only been here…

A quick jaunt in the Joëlette and quickly scarfing down the remains of some post-Joëlette nachos.

On August 20, we had our first Lunch & Learn with Lotus Ring, where Dhaval (Founder) and Natalie (Head of Accessibility and Operations) introduced their innovative new product—a cool wearable that lets you control things in your home just by pointing!

We’re so grateful for their insightful demo and the fantastic resources they shared.

Lotus Links:
Google Document: https://buff.ly/3XjCkKM
Google Document: https://buff.ly/3ACZQtj
Video: https://buff.ly/3XjoMPx
Video: https://buff.ly/3X55vQJ

To make things even better, Lotus is offering a $50 discount on the product when it launches if you sign up for their waitlist on the website. Don’t miss out!

Thanks again to Dhaval and Natalie for an amazing session! 🙌

Join Us for a Lunch-N-Learn Webinar!

We’re excited to show you the Lotus ring —a cool new wearable that lets you control things in your home just by pointing!

Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time

Register here: https://buff.ly/3AmvWcD
Learn more: https://getlotus.com

Don’t miss out on this chance to see how it works and ask any questions. We can’t wait to see you!

IMAGE: Flyer promoting our new Lunch and Learn webinar series. The photo features the Lotus ring that we will be discussing, and all event details are included in the caption.

Did you know that there are FREE ADA support centers around the country?!?

Yes, free (well, paid with tax dollars, I’m guessing, but stay with me).

No matter where in the USA you live, you can call one of the regional centers to ask about ADA and other disability rights laws. The calls are free! There are various centers across the country, but you can call any one of them! (If you have a question at 6pm EST and your center is closed, call one in another time zone!

So many of you message me with questions, but these are the centers you should really call! I’m just a nerd, this is where the experts work!

Find your regional center here!!!

https://adata.org/find-your-region

OR

https://adata.org

And be sure to thank them and send thank you notes and gifts. These are the people who are making sure people know their rights!

New England ADA Center: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

Northeast ADA Center: NY, NJ, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Mid-Atlantic ADA Center: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV

Southeast ADA Center: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

Great Lakes ADA Center: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI

Southwest ADA Center: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX

Great Plains ADA Center: IA, KS, MO, NE

Rocky Mountain ADA Center: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY

Pacific ADA Center: AZ, CA, HI, NV

Northwest ADA Center: AK, ID, OR, WA

You can also call the ADA National Network at: 1-800-949-4232

Follow them on social media to keep ip with the latest disability rights news and other information about laws.

Feel free to share so everyone knows where to go to learn their rights!!!

♿️🤓

The newest path takes Debby straight through North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm could bring “life-threatening flash flooding”. Stay informed about upcoming weather emergencies and find out how to access assistance!

https://disabilityrightsnc.org/newsfeed/nc-severe-weather-emergency-resources/

For more tips, go to www.readync.gov

Sharing this from our friends at Catalyst Sports. Please consider taking this online survey!

Adaptive Athletes. If you have time to spare, please complete the survey from a fellow adaptive athlete, working on her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Eastern Kentucky University.

https://eku.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ewyxTdhxc5ef4cm

United Spinal Association announced it will cease publication of New Mobility’s bimonthly print magazine and its page-turning digital edition after the November/December 2024 issue — but we assure you this isn’t the end of New Mobility. We will continue to publish authentic content by and for wheelchair users, which has been NM’s hallmark for 35 years. What will be different is how it is delivered.

As we work towards expanding our digital offerings we would love your input. If you have time to fill out this survey we would appreciate it: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BNKPTKL

🇮🇹 NEW Group Trip Dates Just Added 🇮🇹

As you may have seen last week, we launched the 2025 Curb Free Group Trips and next year, we’re going to Italy!!! All 3 group trips to Italy SOLD OUT within just a few hours, so we are excited to launch two more groups today!! 😁

These group trips will have the exact same itinerary as the previous 3 groups that we announced last week, but these two new trips will take place in November 2025. Italy has mild weather in autumn with highs typically in the 60s (Fahrenheit), so this will be a wonderful time of year for a trip to Italy.

You can learn more about the trip and sign up at the links below ⬇️

🍕 November 8th-15th, 2025 - https://wheeltheworld.com/accessible-group-trips/62

🍕 November 22nd-29th, 2025 - https://wheeltheworld.com/accessible-group-trips/63

Hurry because all spots will be sold on a first come, first served basis! Get ready for the accessible adventure of a lifetime! 🎉

Thank you SO much to our speakers, attendees, volunteers, and sponsors that made our second Women with Disabilities Conference and Raw Beauty Reveal such a great event today! We are so grateful for everyone’s support! Please share and tag us in any photos you have, we’d love to see them all ❤️

Today’s the day! Let’s goooo!