Amazing Stem Cell Breakthrough

Scientists have created the equivalent of embryonic stem cells from ordinary skin cells, a breakthrough that could someday produce new treatments for disease such as Spinal Cord Injuries and Parkinson's Disease without the explosive moral questions of embyro cloning.

Research teams in the United States and Japan showed that a simple lab technique can rival the complex and highly controversial idea of extracting stem cells from cloned embryos. It was a landmark achievement on all fronts, defusing one of the most divisive debates in modern medicine and religion. It was lauded by scientists, ethicists and religious groups.

"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone — the biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr. Robert Lanza, whose company, Advanced Cell Technology, has been trying to extract stem cells from cloned human embryos. "It redefines the ethical terrain," said Laurie Zoloth, a bioethicist at Northwestern University.

"It's a win-win for everyone involved," said the Rev. Thomas Berg of the Westchester Institute, a Roman Catholic think tank. "We have a way to move forward which ... brings the kind of painful national debate over this controversial research to very much a peaceful and promising resolution."

The new technique reprograms cells, giving them the chameleon-like qualities of embryonic stem cells, which can morph into all kinds of tissue, such as heart, nerve and brain. As with embryonic cells, the hope is to speed medical research. For example, one day an ailing patient might benefit from genetically matched healthy tissue that would replace damaged cells.

The scientists themselves were startled by their success. "I was surprised when we achieved our results with the mouse," Yamanaka said. "But proving what we could do with human cells really bowled me over."

Thomson said he was surprised it didn't take longer to discover how to reprogram ordinary cells. The technique, he said, is so simple that "thousands of labs in the United States can do this, basically tomorrow." In contrast, the cloning approach is so complex and expensive that many scientists say it couldn't be used routinely to supply stem cells for therapy.

The new work shows that like cloning, "direct reprogramming" can also use ordinary body cells to create versatile cells that are genetically matched. "It's a bit like learning how to turn lead into gold," said Lanza, while cautioning that the work is far from providing medical payoffs.

"It's a huge deal," agreed Rudolf Jaenisch, a prominent stem cell scientist at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge, Mass. "You have the proof of principle that you can do it."

Still, scientific questions remain about the cells produced by direct reprogramming, called "iPS" cells. One is how the cells compare to embryonic stem cells in their behavior and potential. Eventually, iPS cells might prove better for some scientific uses and cloned stem cells preferable for other uses. For example, scientists want to study the roots of genetic disease and screen potential drug treatments in their laboratories.

Scottish researcher Ian Wilmut, famous for his role in cloning Dolly the sheep a decade ago, has said he is giving up the cloning approach to produce stem cells and plans to pursue direct
reprogramming instead. "We'll see, ultimately, which one works and which one is more practical," he said.

Interview with Dean Kamen - Monday, November 26, 2007

I will have the opportunity to interview Dean Kamen, the inventor of the IBot wheelchair, next week for the magazine I am working for, "Solutions."

Dean Kamen is an inventor, an entrepreneur and a tireless advocate for science and technology. His roles as inventor and advocate are intertwined -- his own passion for technology and its practical uses has driven his personal determination to spread the word about technology’s virtues and by so doing to change the culture of the United States. His vast knowledge of the physical sciences, combined with his ability to integrate the fundamental laws of physics with the most modern technologies, has led to the development of breakthrough processes and products.

As an inventor, he holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. Among his many inventions is the IBot wheelchair, which allows people to roll up stairways.

He founded DEKA Research & Development Corporation to develop internally generated inventions as well as to provide R&D for major corporate clients.

Among Dean's proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use, and enjoy science and technology. Mr. Kamen was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 2000, awarded by President Clinton in 2000 for inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide, and for innovative and imaginative leadership in awakening America to the excitement of science and technology. He was also awarded the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2005. He was inducted into the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame earlier this month.

SCI Support Groups

The Greater Boston Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association holds monthly support groups throughout the state. Check www.sciboston.org for dates, times and locations.

Profile: Harley Thomas

I had the privilege of meeting Harley Thomas last April, at the BMC SCI Gala in Boston.

In Memoriam

The National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) awarded the first ever Harley L. Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award to the man who inspired the award and after whom it is named, Harley L. Thomas this week in conjunction with the 2007 Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame. Immediate past president of NSCIA's Board of Directors and long-time disability activist, Harley Thomas, passed away on September 4, 2007.


Born and raised in Utah, Harley joined the U.S. Marine Corps at a very young age, earning a discharge at age 19. He then served 18 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1976 as a chief petty officer. In the service, he was attached to the Defense Communications Agency, and was deployed to Colorado, Hawaii, Japan, Vietnam, San Diego, and Norfolk and Reston, VA. He was an early expert in large mainframe computers, and continued in the information technology industry in California after leaving the Navy. He earned a business degree from the University of Virginia while in the service.


While stationed in Japan, Thomas became active in motorcycle racing and continued racing for many years. He acquired a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident in Mexico in 1982, using a wheelchair since that event. These circumstances led him to new frontiers as an advocate for veterans and other people with disabilities. He co-founded Colorado Sports for the Physically Challenged, Inc. (CSPC), a sports camp for children and youth with disabilities, in 1985, and was executive director of the Mountain States Chapter of PVA.


In 1997, Thomas moved to Washington, DC to become the associate director of Paralyzed Veterans' Legislation Program. He skillfully coordinated The Independent Budget annually with three other veterans service organizations, testified before Congress, and represented Paralyzed Veterans nationwide at meetings and conferences. He chaired the VA's Volunteer Service Advisory Committee and served on the board of the Paralyzed Veterans Education Foundation.


Thomas helped to identify disability-friendly communities as a judge for the Accessible America Award for the National Organization on Disability. He is immediate past president of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association and had served on the board of the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia.

SCI Hall Of Fame Awards

Stars Shined at the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame Gala

The National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) honored fifteen of the most accomplished and extraordinary members of the spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) community at the third annual SCI Hall of FameTM induction ceremony and gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on November 6. Award winning journalist Leon Harris, former CNN co-anchor , current newscaster for ABC7/WJLA-TV and co-host of Capital Sunday served as Master of Ceremonies.

Launched by the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) in 2005, the SCI Hall of Fame was created to recognize excellence and honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to quality of life and advancements toward a better future for all individuals with spinal cord injury or disease. Participation in this year's process was strong, with more than 160 nominees nationwide.
This year's inductees and their categories include:

1. Dean Kamen, inventor of the iBot Mobility System for Johnson and Johnson's Independence Technology division and founder of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (Assistive Technology),
2. Dana Reeve (1961-2006), founding board member of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and Craig H. Neilsen (1942-2006), former chairman and CEO of Ameristar Casinos and founder of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (Benefactor),
3. Ron Cohen, president, CEO, founder and director of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Corporate Executive),
4. Mark Johnson, Advocacy Director for the Shepherd Center and early member of ADAPT (Disability Activist),
5. Gary Karp, author, journalist, editor, speaker and trainer (Disability Educator),
6. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Emmy award winning ABC-TV program helping families with home accessibility (Entertainment),
7. Dan Wilkins, founder of the Nth Degree (Entrepreneur),
8. Michael Collins, Executive Director of the National Council on Disability and former Executive Director of the CA Statewide Independent Living Council (Government Executive),
9. Chris Canales, co-founder of Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Organization (Grassroots Organizer),
10. Kelly Buckland, executive director of the Idaho State Independent Living Council and president of the National Council on Independent Living (Legislative),
11. Montel Williams, Emmy award winning talk show host and founder of the Montel Williams MS Foundation (Media),
12. Kim Anderson, researcher in neurological surgery at Reeve-Irvine Research Center (Research in Basic Science),
13. Susan Harkema, rehabilitation director of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center and the director of research at Frazier Rehabilitation Institute (Research in Quality of Life) and
14. Renee Tyree, Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medalist (Sports).
    

In addition to the 14 Hall of Fame categories, NSCIA presented its Emerging Leader Award to Chris Skinner, founder of the Chris Skinner Organization, for exceptional leadership qualities in a local or regional capacity toward the improvement of opportunities or quality of life for persons living with SCI. To learn about all of this year's nominees, visit www.spinalcord.org. The mission of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) is to enable people with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) to achieve their highest level of independence, health, and quality of life. NSCIA advocates for best practices and public policies that proactively affect people with SCI/D, their families and service providers. The Association conducts public policy initiatives through its local chapters and at the national level and actively collaborates with other national organizations on issues of mutual concern.

Stepping Forward - Staying Informed, 3rd Annual SCI Research Conference

I attended the 3rd Annual SCI Research Conference sponsored by Boston Medical Center today at the Massachusetts Convention Center in Boston. This year's "Stepping Forward - Staying Informed" conference had presentations on stem cell research, weight management, emergency preparedness, and sexuality for people living with SCI. It was very informative, as usual.

Check our www.bmc.org/rehab for information on the conference.

Recommended Reading...

Check out this informative, interactive website...

We are the CareCure Community!

SCI Care - The art and science of managing therapies, routines, medication, supplies, equipment and everything else needed to maintain the spinal injured person in top health.

• Ask our SCI-Nurses questions in the Care Forum, New SCI Forum, Relationships and Sexuality Forum, Transverse Myelitis & Atraumatic SCI, and other forums.
• Visit our Caregiving, Equipment and Exercise Forums.
• SCI Cure - Therapies that restore function in spinal cord injury and related conditions. The Cure Forum contains comprehensive and up-to-date news on curing spinal cord injury.
• The Research Forums lists abstracts of the latest scientific articles on brain injury & stroke, neurodegeneration, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, spinal cord injury, stem cells, and tranverse myelitis.
• Exchange information about Clinical Trials, Equipment & Services, Doctors & Clinics.
• CareCure has over 70 forums where we discuss everything from Life to Legislation & Advocacy, from Sports and Travel to Pain, from Computers to Politics.

We discuss it all! Please come join us! Follow any of the above highlighted links...

The National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA)

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Tuesday, November 6, 2007

John F. Kennedy Centerfor the Performing Arts

2700 F Street, NW

Washington, DC

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Join us for a performance on the millennium stage, followed by the 2007 Induction Ceremony, and a dessert reception in the Roof Terrace Restaurant. Black Tie Optional. Reserve your spot now: Click here to purchase tickets and for hotel information.

Upcoming Event - 5k Road Race To Benefit Travis Roy Foundation

BILL'S PIZZERIA 5K ROAD RACE
Next Event: October 28, 2007
Newton Centre, MA

Time: October 28, 2007 9:00 am

Place: Mason Rice School, Tyler Terrace

Distance: 5k Race

Entry Fee: $18.00 pre; $22.00 post

Course Description: Great course that runs along Crystal Lake to Walnut Street. Follows a slight downgrade on Walnut to Homer Street which offers a solid climb to Newton Centre. Race begins and ends on Tyler Terrace.

Age Group Awards: Top 3 male and females, top 3 (male/female) 15 and under, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.

Amenities: Pizza for all finishers; Professional timing; USATF sanctioned course.

T-Shirts: Great race shirts available for first 500 registrants

Sponsors: Bill’s Pizzeria; New Balance

Directions: From Mass Pike East: Take Exit 17. Take first right off the exit onto Centre Street. Follow Centre Street through 4 sets of lights. Tyler Terrace is on the right side. Make a right on Tyler to Mason Rice School. Parking available in the Mason Rice School Lot.

To Register Online: http://www.coolrunning.com/major/07/bills5k/

To Register By Mail: Mail completed application to: Fattman Productions, C/O Bill's 5K, 11 Central Terrace, Newton, MA 02466

Questions: 617-916-2002; email: mailto:kfattman@hotmail.com

Profile: Travis Roy

Travis Roy first put on ice skates at just 20 months old. As years passed, his love for the game of hockey quickly became a passion. In the fall of 1995 Roy accomplished one of his dream goals by earning a hockey scholarship to Boston University. At twenty-years of age he entered into his first collegiate hockey game. Eleven seconds into his first shift, his life changed forever as he crashed into the boards and cracked his fourth and fifth cervical vertebra, paralyzing him from the neck down.

Despite this ill twist of fate, Roy has continued to persevere and defy the odds. With an intense rehabilitation regime, he has regained some movement in his right arm. While coming to grips with his life as a quadriplegic, he returned to Boston University less than a year after his accident. Four years later, he graduated with a degree in public relations from Boston University's prestigious College of Communication. In the storied history of BU Terriers hockey,

Roy's #24 is the only jersey to have been retired.

In 1997 Roy wrote his autobiography with Sports Illustrated’s E.M. Swift titled Eleven Seconds which chronicles his accident, rehabilitation, and perseverance through personal tragedy. Eleven Seconds was recently updated with an 'Afterword' chapter and is currently in its sixth printing.

An articulate advocate for individuals living with spinal cord injuries, Roy is a frequent speaker on the hope research carries and the need for increased funding, including testifying before a US Senate Committee hearing for The National Institute of Health in Washington, DC, addressing the Massachusetts state legislature and providing testimony to the Maine state legislature. In 1997, he founded the Travis Roy Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that focuses on finding a cure for spinal cord injuries and provides grants to spinal cord injury survivors in financial need to help them purchase costly adaptive equipment necessary to live more active and independent lives.

Actively involved in the activities of the Foundation that bears his name, Roy is a popular motivational speaker and has also worked as a color commentator for college hockey games on ESPN and WMTW-TV8 in Maine. A Boston, MA resident, he spends his summers with his family on Lake Champlain in Vermont. Roy can also be found supporting his Terriers at Boston University hockey games, or with a paint brush in his mouth working on his latest work of art.

Christopher Reeve - In Memorium

Christopher Reeve passed away on October 10, 2004. At only 52 years old, it was far too soon. The world mourned his death, and we all reflected on the memories he left behind for each of us. And as we approach the anniversary of his passing, we all agree: No one epitomized a true hero better than Christopher Reeve. Never before has there been so much hope and optimism that cures and treatments for SCI will be found. Christopher's legacy is that we continue his journey on behalf of millions of people worldwide living with paralysis.

Christopher Reeve was born on September 25, 1952 in New York City. While the world knew him for his incredible role as Superman, those who knew him personally remember him to be so much more than just an exquisite actor. Christopher Reeve was an extraordinary father, a loving husband, a human rights advocate, an avid adventurer, an environmentalist, an author, a director, and an accomplished pianist. He was also a pilot who had made two solo trips across the Atlantic, a outdoor enthusiast who skied, sailed, scuba dived, played tennis, and canoed alone into the wilderness.

In 1985, at the age of 33, Christopher began horseback riding and by 1989 was competing in events, which included cross-country jumping. On May 27, 1995, Christopher Reeve was thrown from a horse and suffered a spinal cord injury so severe, that he became completely paralyzed from the neck down.

Christopher initiated a sea of change. Through his leadership, the Christopher Reeve Foundation (CRF) was born and grew exponentially re-shaping the world of spinal repair research. Under his guidance, CRF’s research programs have tripled and today spans from very basic science (molecular and cellular research) to clinical application (testing and delivering promising therapies to patients). Research dollars can hardly keep up with the momentum that he has ignited.

Christopher fought to increase research funding and attention at a federal level by appearing in front of Congress as a patient advocate. And while ardent research continued, Dana Reeve established the Quality of Life Grants Program to aid organizations working to enhance the quality of life for those living through the day-to-day challenges of disability. In order to address individual quality of life needs, Christopher and Dana co-founded the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center. A first of its kind, the Paralysis Resource Center provides information to people around the world desperate to learn about everything related to paralysis, such as updates on leading research efforts, sources for equipment and support groups, answers for a myriad inquiries on insurance and governmental bureaucracies. Never had there been a team like Christopher and Dana Reeve – so revered and loved for their partnership, both professionally and personally.

Christopher’s legacy through the Christopher Reeve Foundation is strong and enduring. It is humbling to comprehend how one man, who for the last decade of his life was a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic, could change the world.

...At The Stem Cell Summit

I will put up detailed information soon. For now, here are some Brief Highlights:

• Governor Deval Patrick appeared at the conference today to speak in support of stem cell research. He thinks Massachusetts should be able to attract top-notch scientists and researchers in this field
• Over 35 countries participated in the summit, through poster sessions, speakers, vendors, consumers and researchers
• Doctors are aiming for a "pragmatic cure" for SCI - meaning that basic motor function could be achieved by reconnecting as little as 20% of damaged CNS nerves
• Blood diseases, such as diabetes and leukemia, may present a simpler treatment than SCI for stem cells because they involve replacing only 1 type of cell vs. the entire CNS
• Stem cells have not been used in any practical application as of yet
• There are 3 types of stem cells: embryonic, umbilical, and adult
  
  
  more soon...

Help Restore the Americans with Disabilities Act

Did you know that the Americans with Disabilities Act may not protect someone with a disability from an employer who does not hire or fires that person?

October is National Employment Awareness for People with Disabilities month!

People with disabilities should not be subject to discrimination in the workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was passed with overwhelming support from both parties and signed by President George H.W. Bush in order to give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to work and a chance to be judged fairly.

But this is not happening. The courts have created a Catch-22 so that a person is "too disabled" to do the job but "not disabled enough" to be protected by the ADA. This is wrong!

Four strong leaders of both parties have introduced a bill to restore the Americans with Disabilities Act to its original intent. You can send an email that is ready to go to your own Representative and your own two Senators.

Go to http://donations.unitedspinal.org and click on Take Action.

If you or someone you know has been fired or not hired due to a disability, add a short description of what happened to the letter you send.

If you get a chance, please thank the primary sponsors of the ADA Restoration Act: Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Senators Tom Harkin, (D-IA) and Arlen Specter(R-PA). Harkin was the lead Senator on original passage of the ADA in 1990.

For more information (including a list of all Representatives who have agreed to co-sponsor the ADA Restoration Act) or any other issues in Washington that are important to people with disabilities, please send an email to publicpolicy@unitedspinal.org

Interview With South Boston Onlline

Look for me in The South Boston Online newspaper in the next week or two! I was interviewed by Rick Winterson the other day...

Stem Cell Summit Scholarship Award

I was notified today that I have been chosen to receive a scholarship award from Boston Medical Center to attend the Stem Cell Summit at the Hynes Convention Center on October 2 & 3.

I will also get to meet Michael J Fox Tuesday evening at the Stem Cell Awards dinner!

The climate is changing for stem cell research -- for the better!

Stem cell research represents the universal hope for healing and the political climate is changing for those seeking cures through revolutionary medicine. New rules are being written and public and private funding for research is becoming available. Genetics Policy Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Burrill Life Science Media Group have joined together to produce The Stem Cell Summit. This unique event will gather the global community of stakeholders to learn what's new, share ideas, search for solutions and focus on advancing stem cell research from "the bench to the bedside."

Meet top innovators, researchers from around the world, clinicians, government officials, business leaders, political strategists, bioethicists, legal experts and advocates to celebrate scientific achievements, confront challenges and chart the future of regenerative medicine. Learn how cutting-edge biomedical research might impact your health and the health of your family and loved ones.

RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, FUNDING, LAW, COMMERCE, PHILANTHROPY, FINANCE, BIOPHARMA, ETHICS, POLITICS, HOSPITAL PERSPECTIVES, PATIENT INFORMATION

I will write a synopsis for my blog on the information I receive at the conference next week. In the meantime, check out The Stem Cell Summit for more information.

Boston Herald Features SCI Research Story - Friday, September 21, 2007

MIT Scientist: Paralysis Cure Eyed
By Herald staff
Friday, September 21, 2007
http://www.bostonherald.com

The future of curing traumatic spinal cord injuries could be on the horizon, and it involves plastics, according to one of MIT’s top biotechnology professors. Dr. Robert Langer, 59, MIT professor of chemical engineering and the youngest person ever - at 43 - to be appointed to all three U.S. National Academies of science, told the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce that he and his students began effectively curing rats of paralysis using a plastic scaffold that would be inserted into their bodies.

During the speech, Langer demonstrated what could be a future treatment for humans. He showed a film of the paralyzed rat before it was treated with a special plastic implant coated with neuronal stem cells.The rat could move around but had lost the use of its rear legs.

The film showed the rat weeks later able to walk on all four legs fairly well.

The plastic scaffold helps reduce scar tissue and may help duplicate new cells, Langer said. “Different people have used different models,” Langer said. “It’s a question of how much improved function you get.”

Langer said his research is being partially funded by InVivo Therapeutics Corp., a Cambridge life-science company that is raising funds to treat traumatic spinal cord injuries. Frank Reynolds, CEO of InVivo, declined to give financial specifics, but said the company has a consulting staff of 18 people.

Reynolds said Langer’s use of plastics, which the MIT professor also believes could grow new bone, intestine, liver and ureter cells, would help commercialize the first big breakthrough in treatment of paralysis.

“We believe it will be the first effective treatment for spinal cord injury,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said Irish officials will be visiting Boston to discuss $10 million in funding for InVivo from the Irish government.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view

The Miami Project To Cure Paralysis

The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is:

- The world's largest comprehensive spinal cord injury (SCI) research center;

- Dedicated to finding more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for paralysis;

- A Center of Excellence housed at the Lois Pope LIFE Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.


About The Miami Project

The Miami Project was co-founded in 1985 by internationally recognized spinal cord injury (SCI) expert, Barth A. Green, M.D. and three families who had experienced SCI firsthand. Business people Don Misner and Beth Roscoe were early supporters of Green's efforts. Joining them following the injury of his son, Marc, was NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti. The Buoniconti family vowed that progress in research would not be slowed because of a lack of funds. Their fundraising efforts brought an unprecedented level of public awareness of the need for SCI research.

The founders envisioned that to find a cure for paralysis, they needed to gather a committed group of scientists from various clinical and scientific disciplines in one center. Out of this vision, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis was born

The Miami Project has assembled a broad spectrum of researchers, clinicians, and therapists whose expertise relate directly to the problem of SCI and whose full-time focus is SCI research. By uniting this broad range of knowledge and talents, The Miami Project team of scientists is accelerating the search for effective treatments for SCI.

Visit www.themiamiproject.org for more information.

Celebrate National Rehabilitation Week, September 16-22, 2007

Each year, thousands of rehabilitation providers and health and human services agencies join together during the third week in September to celebrate the powers of rehabilitation and share the message that through rehab there is hope, achievement and success. More than 6,500 rehab facilities and health and human services care providers have participated in this event since 2000.

Sponsored by the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation, the Celebration focuses the nation's attention on capabilities rather than disabilities; and increases awareness of the tremendous power and impact of rehabilitation.

Rehab Facts And Information:

- Rehabilitation is a medical specialty which helps restore people affected by potentially disabling disease or traumatic injury to good health and functional, productive lives.

- Rehabilitation often centers on a interdisciplinary team approach to care by physiatrists (physicians specializing in rehabilitation); physical, occupational, respiratory and recreational therapists; speech and language pathologists; nurses, psychologists, vocational counselors and others. The rehab team helps individuals to accomplish normal tasks of daily living.

- Nearly 50 million Americans are disabled. Disability does not discriminate - every person is at risk of disability. Therefore, everyone is a potential candidate for rehabilitation. Most Americans will require at least one rehabilitation service at some point in their lives.

- Rehabilitation is an integral part of healthcare and a tremendous component in providing patients with positive outcomes. It is individualized so every patient can progress at his or her own ability level. It can lengthen life, improve the quality of life and reduce subsequent illness.

- Statistics show that medical rehabilitation improves lives and saves money. For every $1 spent on rehab care, it is estimated that $11 are saved on long-term disability costs. People participating in rehabilitation programs of care are able to regain productivity and return to work, school and independent living.

- Independence gained or retained through rehabilitation is priceless!

The National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation was established by Allied Services in 1996. Its mission is to educate people about the benefits and impact of rehabilitation; develop programs which aim to increase opportunities for the nearly 50 million Americans with disabilities, and help those who are disabled live up to their fullest potential through rehabilitation. The not- for- profit foundation is headquartered in Scranton, Pa.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission is a state agency that promotes dignity for individuals with disabilities through employment and independent living in the community. MRC is responsible for Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Community Services, and eligibility determination for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Primarily, MRC helps disabled people obtain employment through counseling, training, education, and transportation.


Mission:

MRC promotes equality, empowerment and productive independence of individuals with disabilities by enhancing and encouraging personal choice and risk-taking for independence and employment.

Services:

MRC provides comprehensive services to people with disabilities that maximizes their quality of life and economic self-sufficiency in the community. Multiple programs offered by MRC work together to help individuals with disabilities, such as:

- The Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program
- The Community Services Program
- The Disability Determination Services Program.

Upcoming Event - Stem Cell Summit, October 2 & 3, 2007

The Stem Cell Summit promises to be a veritable cornucopia of scientific and political information for people with spinal cord injuries.

Produced by great friend of the movement, Bernard Siegel of the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), the Summit brings together GPI, The Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and the same Burrill and Company who put on an outstanding Stem Cell Meeting earlier this year.

The Stem Cell Summit will take place at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Attendees will have unprecedented access to the stem cell world's leading thinkers and decision-makers. The topmost tier of guests includes scientists Ian Wilmut, George Daley, and Kevin Eggan, along with warrior patient advocates such as Tricia Brooks and Don Reed.

Please join us for this one of a kind Summit!

Email me for more information...