Massachusetts Walks Again

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 Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, 
Mondays, September 5th,12th,19th,26th.
Click here for Announcement 

Join us for the Annual SCI Awareness Month
Proclamation and Weekly Presentations.
*During each video use the "Pause" feature
to read detailed slides* Due to YouTube format  
you may need to click the link for the next segment.


Week #1 Monday September 5th, 2022

SCI Awareness Month Introduction & Proclamation

Senator Pacheco's Remarks

Bekah Thomas with the DPH


Week #2 Monday September 12th, 2022

Eric J. Ruby, M.D. F.A.A.P- Week #2 Introduction

Research Updates from Thomas P. Kennedy Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Contract Recipients

Christopher V. Gabel, PhD -
Modulation of Cellular Metabolism to Maximize Neuronal Regeneration

Zhigang He, PhD, BM -
 Promoting Axon Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury


Jeffery Macklis, MD, DScTech -
Growth Cone Molecular Machinery for Axon Growth Inhibition vs.
Reaeration in Spinal Cord Injury: Subcellular RNA
Proteome Mapping in Corticospinal Neurons


Andrew T. Reisner MD. - 
Pilot Testing of System for Tight Blood Pressure Management After Spinal Cord Injury

Yang (Ted)Teng, PhD-
Developing Neural Reconstruction Therapies for Experimental Chronic Spinal Cord Injury


Week #3 - Monday, September 19, 2022
Video Portion
Eric J. Ruby, M.D. F.A.A.P introduces week #3
Accessible Travel Presentations by Mary Cooper, Obie Harrington-Howes, Michaela Bushey, and Eik Kondo -
These seasoned travelers tell us about their experiences
and give us tips and tricks that they've learned over the
years. these presentations come from the June Saturday
Education Series put on by Greater Boston Chapter of
United Spinal Association

Eric J. Ruby, M.D. F.A.A.P. presents CDC guidelines
on travel during and after a pandemic.

Articles on Accessible Travel

Best Hotel Chain: Home2 Suites
Report: Disabled Travelers Spend $58 Billion a Year and Want Better Access
Road Trips We Love
Amilla Maldives to Become World's Most Accessible Resort for Disabled Travelers
Embarrassing, Uncomfortable and Risky: What Flying Is Like for Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs

CDC Guidelines

Week #4 - Monday, September 26, 2022

Video Portion


Eric J. Ruby, M.D. F.A.A.P. introduces week #4.

Advocacy and political issues are presented by...

Doug Frey- Greater Boston Chapter of United Spinal Association

Deborah Freed- New England Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America

Leda Anderson- Massachusetts Medical Society

Amy Jozan - Bill S. 768 An Act to Protect Medically Fragile Children

Kristen McCosh- Boston Disability Commission 

Video Portion Kristen McCosh 


Eric J. Ruby, M.D. F.A.A.P. gives his SCI awareness month conclusion.

Bonus Material: Dr. Yang (Ted) Teng - Post-Spinal Cord Injury Therapeutic Effects on Human Neural Stem Cells

*During each video use the "Pause" feature to read detailed slides*

Important Links Below

Disability Law Center Priority Survey

GBC Advocacy Page

United Spinal Association

Disability Policy Consortium





Click the YouTube link here for last year's event.
 

A COLLABORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION FACILITIES, CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS, LEGISLATORS, SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS, POLICY MAKERS, AND ADVOCATES WORKING TOWARD A COMMON GOAL TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND FUNDING FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY CURE


Our Vision is to promote awareness, funding, research, and rehabilitation in the quest for a cure of Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis.


Our Mission is to share information from our network community to promote improvement in the quality of life and activities of daily living of those with Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis.


Our goal to increase funding was achieved. Five researchers in Boston were awarded two and a half million dollars over two years commencing July 1, 2019.

The SCI Trust Fund was established in 2004 to provide funding opportunities for SCI research in Massachusetts. If legislation remains in place, we will continue to see significant funding.


Photos Courtesy of Governor Baker's Office

Massachusetts Walks Again is pleased to announce some positive developments. Years of advocacy combined with testimonies in July, 2015 and September, 2015 have led to the passage of S.2019.

The Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund is renamed after the late Senator Thomas Kennedy, a long-serving Massachusetts Legislator with a spinal cord injury. The bill (S-2019) now allocates 100% of the fines to the fund and corrects the Scrivener’s error in 2010.The Massachusetts Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund was established in 2004 to provide funding opportunities for cutting-edge Spinal Cord Injury research in Massachusetts.

To date, over $4,000,000 has been allocated to this fund. Funds come from a surcharge to the reinstatement of every Massachusetts motor vehicle license.




We will reach out virtually each of the four Mondays of September. This way viewers can watch as little or as much as they want on their own schedule. 



This is the tentative program:


Week #1) Monday, September 5th - Introduction to the format. Proclamation. Overview of Massachusetts Walks Again Website(massachusettswalksagain.com) and our Network.  Sponsor, Senator Marc Pacheco.  DPH Data in terms of funding, # cases last year, costs.  


Week #2) Monday, September 12th - Reports and updates from our Grant Recipients.

Week #3) Monday, September 19th - Travel and Recreation.. Link to New Mobility article on travel.  Information from Rochelle Walensky on how to travel safely in the ever-present Pandemic. 

 Week #4)  Monday, September 26th - Advocacy and political issues to be considered for input and support which may be at the State House.