STEPS Rehabilitation

07/02/2026

It's one week to go until Paralysed Bowel Awareness Day 2026! Neurogenic bowel care is a huge talking point in the spinal cord injury community and this year we want to raise even more awareness about the training that is available for healthcare professionals.

Find out more about the campaign, what we've achieved so far, and what we want to do next⬇️
https://www.spinal.co.uk/campaigns/our-campaigns/paralysed-bowel-awareness/

29/01/2026

Today, our team and clients had a fantastic time attending the WheelPower Sports Festival at the EIS Sheffield.

It was a great opportunity to get involved in a range of adaptive sports, including golf, table tennis, rugby, boccia and cricket, and to celebrate inclusive sport in action. Thank you to WheelPower for a brilliant and inspiring day. ⛳️🏉🏏

27/01/2026

At STEPS Rehabilitation, we are always looking for innovative ways to enhance recovery. That’s why we’re pleased to announce that we are now using BlazePod®, a new tool designed to enhance the engagement and effectiveness of therapy sessions.

BlazePod® are interactive, touch-sensitive pods that use light and movement to create dynamic exercises. They respond instantly to touch, allowing our clients to train reaction time, coordination, balance, and agility in a fun and measurable way.

We also use the BlazePod's Clinic Pack, which includes a variety of attachments to allow maximum flexibility in treatment options. This means they can be set up on the floor, bed, wall, or even door-mounted, making them easily adaptable to different clinical settings and individual client needs.

Visit our site to find out more.

26/01/2026

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that occurs exclusively in individuals living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) at the T6 level or above. It is a serious condition, and once symptoms develop, prompt intervention is critical.

Unfortunately, AD is not always readily recognised outside specialist spinal services, particularly in emergency and pre-hospital settings and urgent improvements are required to enhance patient safety, ensure timely treatment, and potentially save lives.

https://stepsrehabilitation.co.uk/2026/01/autonomic-dysreflexia-ad/

16/01/2026

We know how long it can take to research accessibility information - sometimes up to an hour for just one venue.

We’re working to reduce this time by bringing clear, reliable access information together in one place. Our Detailed Access Guides are designed to help you spend less time searching, removing uncertainties and giving you time back to spend on the things that matter most.

If you’re going somewhere new in 2026, try searching for the venue on our website, there may already be a Detailed Access Guide waiting for you.

https://www.accessable.co.uk/



📸 Wi******er Science Centre and North York Moors National Park

15/01/2026

Working as part of our interdisciplinary team, our Rehabilitation Assistants play a crucial role in supporting clients throughout their stay with us—from morning and evening routines to assisting in therapy sessions, social activities, and evening events.

Our Rehabilitation Assistants make a meaningful difference every single day.

https://stepsrehabilitation.co.uk/teams/care-and-rehabilitation-assistants/

14/01/2026

We've started the new year with a feature on our founders, Jules Shiel-Boulger and Toria Chan in The Times and The Sunday Times.

The article explores both the impact of specialist residential rehabilitation for people with life-changing injuries and the realities of building a new model of neurorehabilitation in a complex clinical landscape.

https://www.thetimes.com/business/entrepreneurs/article/sisters-defy-doubters-to-build-107m-rehabilitation-centre-in-sheffield-for-trauma-patients-2gvqd9m0q?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqdgkB6xyCD5mhZeu8h2nX9bILajZcDf-wZ4GwBiAVHQTV0rupLgUD3pYwx0sUM%3D&gaa_ts=695e68bb&gaa_sig=N-SPnhC4Cqd2d_8P4fPdQVsyXgYnbfzpAb-x0wp7GY4mbKxCx-w89zufDjsZTA-_eXOaKUAeJV34-59wAEqgOg%3D%3D

Sisters Toria Chan and Jules Shiel-Boulger started Steps Rehabilitation after seeing how people with multiple, complex injuries were being let down

09/01/2026

A new play, 'We Indulge in a Bit of Roll Play', explores the societal discomfort surrounding the s*xual lives of people living with disabilities. Following a catastrophic injury, intimacy, connection, and s*xual expression continue to play a vital role in personal well-being and relationships.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/jan/08/a-provocative-new-play-challenges-societys-discomfort-that-disabled-people-have-s*x-lives

Psychos*xual therapy can provide support for individuals post injury, in understanding their s*xual identity, navigating intimate relationships, and developing techniques to reconnect with their s*xuality in a safe and empowering way.

https://stepsrehabilitation.co.uk/2023/02/relationships-after-a-serious-injury/

*xualtherapy

(We indulge in) a bit of roll play is an explicit drama about a young disabled man’s s*xual expression – and puts uncomfortable questions to its audience

07/01/2026

Adapted Clothing Choices in Occupational Therapy

Recent research from Intotum highlights that clothing labels and conventional garment design can cause significant discomfort for people living with disabilities. With 62% of shoppers struggling to find comfortable clothing, there is a clear unmet need in everyday dressing that goes beyond aesthetics or fashion trends.

Our occupational team play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. By working collaboratively with clients, they can identify clothing that supports comfort and independent dressing, whilst still reflecting the client's style and personality.

https://thiis.co.uk/62-per-cent-of-disabled-shoppers-struggle-to-find-comfortable-clothes-because-of-their-disability/

New research reveals that clothing labels are a source of discomfort and sensory overload for millions of disabled and neurodivergent people.

06/01/2026

The Times and The Sunday Times has published an in-depth feature on STEPS directors Jules Shiel-Boulger and Toria Chan, detailing the funding knockbacks, personal risk, and the challenge of building a specialist facility from scratch.

The piece explores how they pushed ahead with a model of rehabilitation that senior clinicians believed wouldn’t work, and traditional lenders deemed too risky to fund, after seeing how people with multiple, complex injuries were being let down.

Read the full article here: https://www.thetimes.com/business/entrepreneurs/article/sisters-defy-doubters-to-build-107m-rehabilitation-centre-in-sheffield-for-trauma-patients-2gvqd9m0q?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqeWuCklVXhf0v3edSda4Em6NMHzwiWq7ED7j72Wz0Q5Ql8_WtgNFxzOdkk72Zc%3D&gaa_ts=695cefc1&gaa_sig=tlXMKd1m31hy6oaLFN8-rTV9E-nbsHPmdMiJw4OgzcrJeYhRxPcCV8qR7qotuUcJ-Yqo3izgdgRnY6GywWxQSw%3D%3D

The Times' New Years Day piece on our client and STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation Trustee, Dr Ed Hudson, is also available to read here: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/paralysed-23-i-walked-down-the-aisle-five-years-later-cx7md30w7

Sisters Toria Chan and Jules Shiel-Boulger started Steps Rehabilitation after seeing how people with multiple, complex injuries were being let down