Happy New Year to all members, friends, and family of the United Spinal Association of Northeast Ohio! Although the holiday season may be coming to a close, our chapter still has so much to celebrate.
To start, we would like to extend a huge thank you to all who attended the United Spinal Association Northeast Ohio Chapter’s 4th Annual ‘A Night of Trivia’ Fundraiser! We are sincerely grateful to everyone who participated or supported the event in any way. Thanks to your generosity and support, we can continue working toward our mission of improving the quality of life for individuals in Northeast Ohio’s spinal cord injury community. We were honored by the incredible turnout of chapter members, friends, and family – we may need to find a larger venue for next year’s fundraiser! Finally, we send our deepest appreciation to our sponsors – ABC Medical, Coloplast, and Hollister – who helped make this event a success.
Looking Ahead
Following the success of our 2023 Trivia Fundraiser and Community Event Program, we already have several events planned to keep the momentum going in 2024. The lineup of events we’ve planned so far is below, but make sure to stay up-to-date on upcoming events by following us on Facebook or by visiting USANEO’s calendar webpage.
2024 In-Person Events
- June 22
- Car Show & Cookout at MetroHealth Old Brooklyn Medical Center, in the back parking lot
- August 10
- USANEO’s 3rd Annual Handcycle and Picnic in the Park at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Cottonwood Reserved Shelter in Fairview Park
- September 28
- MetroHealth’s 27th Annual SCI Forum at MetroHealth Rammelkamp Center – please help us to plan an event with resources and engaging discussions that are relevant and meaningful to you by submitting feedback through our SCI Forum Vendor and Topic Suggestions Survey
- November 16
- USANEO’s 5th Annual ‘A Night of Trivia’ Fundraiser – Venue TBD
2024 Community Event Program
We are looking forward to seeing you for the 2024 Community Event Program! This year, we’re planning to offer sets of two tickets (one member + one caregiver) for free on a first-come, first-served basis for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians, Playhouse Theatre, and the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center. Stay tuned for an updated schedule with finalized dates and outings.
As always, we want to provide the best possible programs for our members. Please let us know what events you would like to attend in the future whether additional resources would help you to participate in the program by filling out our Community Event Program Survey.
Monthly Meetings
We’re continuing to develop an ongoing agenda for our virtual monthly chapter meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm ET. Attending our monthly Zoom meetings is a great way to build community with fellow chapter members while learning about a variety of educational topics from local service providers, along with social and recreational opportunities.
In January, Matt Tilford from the Kelly Brush Foundation shared opportunities to engage with the Active Project, a new platform that provides a library of adaptive sports resources. By joining the Active Project, you can explore opportunities to connect with peers and learn about organizations that offer local sports programs in your area. Watch the recap here, or catch up on previous meeting recordings on our YouTube channel.
Register for the next month’s meeting on February 19 to hear an update on Dr. Rob Hoey’s bowel study and save the date for a social hour on March 18. Visit the calendar page on our website to find regularly updated meeting dates and registration links for upcoming meetings, or email us at unitedspinalneo@gmail.com to suggest a future meeting topic.
More Resources
We know that navigating life after a spinal cord injury – no matter how long it’s been – can be challenging and isolating. We have several free services available to support your needs, including our Peer Mentorship Program, Equipment Lending Program, and an inventory of free donated items for chapter members in need. We also regularly share helpful resources on our Facebook page, but below is a list of materials we’ve collected to help you learn more about available programs, services, and opportunities to build a stronger support system within Northeast Ohio’s spinal cord injury community and beyond.
Northeast Ohio Regional SCI System Resource Guide
Repository of resources for individuals with SCI offered by a variety of public and private organizations, developed by the Northeast Ohio Regional SCI System
Northeast Ohio’s online source for SCI information, research, and engagement
Driving After Spinal Cord Injury
Factsheet on accessing and driving with assistive technology provided by Model System’s Knowledge Translation Center
United Spinal Association Action Center
United Spinal Association’s landing page for learning about and organizing around policy issues that impact individuals with spinal cord injury across the country
Disability Rights Ohio’s resource center covering a range of advocacy and policy areas, including assistive technology, counseling, healthcare, transportation, and more
If you are having trouble finding information on a specific topic or challenge you’re facing, please reach out so we can help find the right resources for you!
What’s Next
In reflecting on our accomplishments in 2023, we are proud to share the progress we have made in expanding our membership and enhancing our programs. We strive to continue serving the spinal cord injury community across Northeast Ohio in 2024, and we hope that you will help us build on our past achievements. We are always looking for more board members to help determine the future of the chapter. If you are looking for an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities through the organization’s mission, we have ample ideas for new volunteering and leadership roles within the chapter. Please email us at unitedspinalneo@gmail.com to learn more.
Your continued support is critical to advancing the progress of our local chapter. If you know anyone who would benefit from USANEO’s resources, please encourage them to register as a free member and share information about upcoming events. We look forward to further developing our membership and leadership team to continue serving the Northeast Ohio community in 2024. Thank you!
