Every summer, spinal cord injury survivors from across the country gather at Stony Brook University for two weeks of intensive rehab and camaraderie through a program run by Empower SCI, a nonprofit organization that helps individuals develop skills that foster independence.

The program was founded in 2012 by three New England therapists who were troubled by ever-shortening rehab stays for spinal cord injury patients.

Therapists work with Ethan Callihan to practice transferring in and out of a wheelchair at Empower SCI.

Although Empower SCI program participants pay a fee, fundraising and a team of more than 50 volunteers help defray some of the costs.

Students in the School of Health Technology and Management were eager for hands-on experiences, so along with several faculty they assisted Empower SCI staff. What’s more, residence halls provided ample space for participants and live-in volunteers.

“A lot of our patients have had their injuries in the water, so there’s an element of facing old fears and overcoming the past,” said Tiffany Moy ’19, a graduate student in occupational therapy who volunteered at this summer’s Empower SCI. “They feel so excited because it’s something they never thought they could do again.”

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/featuredpost/program-offers-spinal-cord-injury-survivors-new-opportunities/