About Us
The Spinal Cord Leaders Council (”the Council”) is comprised of leaders from various organizations that advocate for, treat or conduct research on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders.
This non-partisan group promotes legislation, regulations and policies that will have a positive effect on the quality of life of people with SCI/D. On a monthly basis, or more often as needed, the Council meets to discuss issues that are taking place in Washington which will affect our various, but overlapping, constituencies.
As a Council, we feel that the strengths of each organization can be utilized and duplication of effort can be minimized. Too often, we have seen resources wasted because the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing.
For more information regarding the Spinal Cord Leaders Council, please contact Paul J. Tobin, Chairman, at 800-404-2898, x 7203 or email to ptobin@unitedspinal.org.
Member Organizations
   
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation logo Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.
Kennedy Krieger Institute logo. Wheelchair user followed nearby by an adult and a child. with organization name underneath. Kennedy Krieger Institute
An internationally recognized facility located in Baltimore, Maryland dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with pediatric developmental disabilities through patient care, special education, research, and professional training.
National Spinal Cord Injury Association logo National Spinal Cord Injury Association
Founded in 1948, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association is the nation’s oldest and largest civilian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Americans living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) and their families.
Paralyzed Veterans of American with forward moving cartoon wheelchair user with organization name in front. Paralyzed Veterans of America
Paralyzed Veterans of America works to maximize the quality of life for its members and all people with SCI/D as a leading advocate for health care, SCI/D research and education, veterans’ benefits and rights, accessibility and the removal of architectural barriers, sports programs, and disability rights.
Logo on black background with organization name in red lettering. Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and technological advances.
Five seperate stick figures starting with one seated in a wheelchair followed by four more that go from seating to standing. Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
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.
Logo with organization's name and Craig Hospital
Craig is exclusively dedicated to the specialty rehabilitation and research for patients with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. We have treated more than 25,500 patients since 1956 – more spinal cord injury patients than any other single facility in the world.
Logo with organization's name Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of human service providers in the areas of aging services, behavioral health, child and youth services, DMEPOS, employment and community services, medical rehabilitation, and opioid treatment program.
Logo stating National Rehabilitation Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital
National Rehabilitation Hospital specializes in treating persons with physical disabilities caused by spinal cord and head injuries, stroke, arthritis, amputation, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, and other neurological and orthopedic conditions.
Logo with icon of two hands with a Shepherd Center
Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital devoted to the medical care and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular problems.
Logo consisting of an orange oval with a stick figure wheelchair user within and United Spinal Association to the right United Spinal Association
For more than sixty years, we have committed our energy and our talents to improving the lives of individuals with a spinal cord injury or disease. Our initiatives, in promoting inclusion, improving access, fostering independence, enhancing mobility, and demanding equality, along with our commitment to member service, has helped to improve the quality of life and to create opportunities for our members and all people with sci/d.
Logo stating University Health Care University of Utah-Rehabilitation Services
We are dedicated to helping you reclaim your life and the independence you have lost through injury or disease. Physicians, therapists and nurses trained in specialty areas such as spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, and general neurological conditions, provide care to patients with the ultimate goal of returning them to home or a home-like setting.
Logo that states Rehabilitation Institute of Indianapolis Incorporated Rehabilitation Institute of Indianapolis Incorporated
Rehabilitation Institute of Indianapolis Incorporated specializes in the provision of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
W. M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience
The mission of the W. M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience is the development of effective treatments for acute and chronic spinal cord injuries and to move these discoveries from laboratory to human lives as rapidly as possible.
Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
A private foundation with the purpose of awarding grants to a broad spectrum of charities benefiting spinal cord injury (SCI) research and rehabilitation, cancer research, and children’s charities.
ITEM Coalition ITEM Coalition
The mission of the ITEM Coalition (Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid) is to raise awareness and build support for policies that will improve access to assistive devices, technologies and services for people of all ages with disabilities and chronic conditions.
A red N and M on a black background representing New Mobility Magazine New Mobility magazine
New Mobility encourages the integration of active-lifestyle wheelchair users into mainstream society, while simultaneously reflecting the vibrant world of disability-related arts, media, advocacy and philosophy.
American Association of SCI Nurses logo American Association of SCI Nurses
AASCIN promotes quality care for individuals with SCI by advancing SCI nursing practice through education, research, advocacy, health care policy and collaboration with consumers and health care delivery systems.
AASCIPSW logo American Association of SCI Psychologists and Social Workers
American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers (AASCIPSW) is an association of professionals specializing in the provision of psychosocial services to meet the cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral care needs of persons affected by spinal cord impairment (SCI).
American Paraplegia Society American Paraplegia Society
The mission of the American Paraplegia Society is to advance spinal cord medicine through state of the art education, dissemination of information, and promotion of research and advocacy. American Paraplegia Society collaborates with researchers, physicians, and the entire spectrum of health care providers who serve persons with spinal cord injuries/disorders.
ASIA American Spinal Injury Association
The mission of the American Spinal Injury Association isto promote and establish standards of excellence for all aspects of health care of individuals with spinal cord injury from onset throughout life.