Resources for Spinal Cord Injury Patients
With the right resources and support system, those with a spinal cord injury can live life to the fullest. That's why we have created this list of resources based on the specific needs of those with spinal cord injuries. You'll find services and resources grouped by category to make it easier for you. We hope you visit this page often and find value in these resources.
- Attendant Services
- Centers for Independent Living
- Financial Resources
- Home Accessibility/Modifications
- Magazines
- Movies and Television
- Recreation
- Spinal Cord Injury Education and Resources
- Support Groups
- Therapy
- Transportation
Attendant Services
- American Spinal Injury Association: Consumer guidelines to choosing a SCI rehabilitation setting
- Baltimore County Government Community Resources Directory
- Commission on Aging and Retirement Education (CARE): formerly Baltimore City Maryland Access Point
- Office of Aging and CARE Services: 1001 E. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21202 (410-396-4932)
- Health and Human Service Resources in your community: Call 211 from your phone or access web resources 24 hours/day in 180 languages. Includes information on healthcare, children/family, mental health, veterans, food, housing, utility assistance, employment, legal/tax assistance, and seniors/people with disabilities.
- Maryland Community Services Locator (MDCSL)
- MedStar Visiting Nurses Association (VNA)
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Senior Information and Assistance Call Center (410-396-2273)
- United States Department of Labor - Disability Resources: Information on benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation
Centers for Independent Living
- Accessible Resources for Independence: Support and services for people with disabilities in Anne Arundel and Howard Counties
- Center for Independent Living in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties
- Independent Marylanders Achieving Growth through Emporement (IMAGE): Peer mentoring, independent living skills, information/referral, individual advocacy, education transition program and travel training
- Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council (MSILC)
- Resources for Independence in Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties
- Southern Maryland Center for Independent Living: Resources for individuals living in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties
- The Freedom Center: Carroll and Frederick Counties
Financial Resources
- Benefits.gov: Search for government benefits by state
- Disability Rights Maryland (DRM): Learn more about free legal services for Marylanders of any age with all types of disabilities (developmental, intellectual, learning, psychiatric, physical, sensory, traumatic brain injury) who live in facilities, in the community or who are homeless.
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Maryland Medical Assistance Programs
- Maryland Waivers Programs
- Social Security disability benefits
- The Tri-State Advocacy Project: Assistance for patients with SCI for rehab benefits, DME, insurance and social security appeals and funding
Home Accessibility/Modifications
- ADA and IT Technical Assistance Centers
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines
- Amramp
- Consumer Affairs: Top Ten Best Electric Wheelchairs
- Future Home Tours
- Habitat for Humanity housing application information
- Home Modifications Directory for Maryland–Maryland Technology Assistance Program: Information on general funding, federal and state funding, tax benefits as well as Maryland centers for independent living
- Home Wheelchair Ramp Project: Information on how to build access ramps
- Legal Rights of the Catastrophically Ill and Injured: A Family Guide
- Mid-Atlantic ADA Information
- Resources for Home Modifications: Includes housing accessibility modification program throughout Maryland
- Walk-In Tub Recommendations—Retirement Living Information Center
Magazines
- Ability Magazine: Paid subscription magazine that brings disabilities into the mainstream by interviewing celebrities about their own exposure and views, and also handling many other issues, in order to break down stereotypes and barriers. Also has excellent resources and links.
- Able Magazine
- Active Living Magazine: Adaptive lifestyle resource center
- Caregiver Magazine
- New Mobility: Magazine for active wheelchair users
- New Pathways Magazine
- Palestra: Sport, physical education and recreation information for those with disabilities
- Special Living: Magazine for easier living for mobility-challenged individuals
- Sports N Spokes Magazine: Magazine for wheelchair sports and recreation
- World of Possibilities Magazine: Offers information for those with disabilities in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia
Movies and Television
- Push Girls: Television show on the Sundance network featuring women using wheelchairs and their daily lives
- The Intouchables movie
Recreation
- Baltimore Adapted Recreation and Sports (BARS)
- DateAble, Inc.: Non-profit social organization for people with and without disabilities who seek new friends and relationships
- Life Rolls On: Information on sports for young SCI patients
- Ms. Wheelchair Maryland and Junior Miss Wheelchair Pageant
- Paralyzed Veterans of America: Includes information on sports for SCI patients
- Resources for disabled hunters
- United States Quad Rugby Association
Spinal Cord Injury Education and Resources
- BestColleges.com: College Guide for Students with Physical Disabilities
- Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Fundraising organization for research to cure paralysis
- Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation - Living with Paralysis: Links for sexual health topics for men and women with paralysis
- Dr. Mitchell Tepper: Expert on sexual health, disabilities and medical conditions
- Maryland State Board of Elections voting accessibility brochure
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) - Spinal Cord Injury Information Page
- NIH MedlinePlus: Tutorials on anatomy, causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of SCI in both English and Spanish
- Spinal Cord Injury Network: Washington, DC chapter of National Spinal Cord Injury Association
- SpinalHub: Sexual health and spinal cord injury
- United Spinal Association: Downloadable handouts, webinars and general information for individuals with disabilities
- United Spinal Association - Publications: Downloadable PDFs and other publications
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System Information Network: Print materials for general SCI education
- Yes You Can! A Guide to Self-Care for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury (Download the book here.)
Support Groups
- CareCure Community: Provides over 70 forums to post and read related to SCI
- United Spinal Association: Lists resources and support groups for Maryland and other states
- Women Embracing Abilities Now: Peer counseling/mentoring group for women with different disabilities
Therapy
- Institute for Well-Being at Towson University: Offers SLP treatment once insurance coverage has ended
- Loyola Clinical Centers: Provides SLP treatment once insurance coverage has ended. Call 410-617-1200 for more information.
- Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitation Services
- MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network: Offers inpatient, day program, outpatient, home care, SCI seating clinic
- MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Outpatient Therapy Programs: Locations in Aberdeen, Baltimore, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Lutherville, Pikesville and Westminster
- Outpatient Rehabilitation at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
- Snyder Center for Aphasia Life Enhancement (SCALE)
- The League for People with Disabilities: Information on adult medical day care, camping/therapeutic recreation, day rehabilitation and career services
Transportation
- Accessible Air Travel Brochure - United Spinal Association
- CountyRide Registration: Learn about and apply for Baltimore County’s CountyRide transportation services.
- Maryland Transit Administration: Learn how to apply for mobility/para-transit services.
- Motor Vehicle Administration: Learn how to apply for disability placard and/or plate in Maryland. Download the application here.
- Resources for travelers in wheelchairs or with limited mobility:
- Access Tours: Specializes in tours on the west coast of the United States
- Accessible Island Tours: Specializes in tours in the Caribbean
- Accessible Journeys
- Accomable: Resources for finding accessible lodging
- Barrier-Free Cruising
- DisabledTravelers.com: Resources and travel guides for travelers with disabilities
- Emerging Horizons
- Flying Wheels Travel
- The Guided Tour
- Trips, Inc.
- Washington Metro Area Transit Authority – Accessibility Resources
