Facing Disability for Families Facing Spinal Cord Injuries

01/27/2026

From our Blog: A special blood screening measures biomarkers that are released when spinal cord tissue is damaged.

A new blood test may give doctors an early read on how a spinal cord injury could affect movement and sensation.

01/27/2026

ADMIN APPROVED:
Help Improve Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Researchers at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab want people who receive HCBS to test short surveys about their services.

What’s involved:
Quick screening call by phone or Zoom (unpaid)
Two or more 10-minute surveys (online, phone, or Zoom)
$30 per survey, plus $40 for follow-ups
Complete up to 6 surveys for $200 total
Interested?
Take the screener: https://redcap.link/hcbsquality
Questions? Email: hcbs-rrtc@sralab.org

Funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (IRB #: STU00214517)

12/31/2025

12/23/2025

After a spinal cord injury, finding information you can trust is not always easy. That is why this page exists.

You’ll hear directly from people living with paralysis, sharing in their own words how they navigate daily life, adapt, and cope, alongside reliable SCI resources you can trust.

We believe real voices matter. We believe accuracy matters. And we believe this information should always be free and accessible.

If you are here to learn, listen, or feel less alone, you are in the right place.

FacingDisability.com offers real-life stories and expert medical videos about living with spinal cord injury.

12/16/2025

From our blog: For people living with spinal cord injuries, service dogs can be life-changing partners contributing to a stronger sense of autonomy and control.

For people living with spinal cord injuries, service dogs can be life-changing partners.

11/25/2025

What does gratitude look like from a C-5/6 quadriplegic’s perspective? Jeff Shannon knew. A veteran writer on disability issues, longtime movie reviewer, and film historian, Jeff shared his honest, thought-provoking voice with FacingDisability.com for years.

In his memory, we’re re-sharing his 2013 Thanksgiving blog post, “Giving Thanks on the 2-for-1 Plan.”

A brilliant Thanksgiving essay by Jeff Shannon, a veteran writer on disability issues, and a regular contributor to FacingDisability.com

11/18/2025

PODCAST: When a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury, Thea Flaum realized families were on their own. That’s why she created FacingDisability.com. It's full of medical info, and real stories from people living with paralysis.

When Thea Flaum suddenly found herself caring for a family member with a spinal cord injury (SCI), she quickly discovered a lack of resources and support for...

10/23/2025

On the podcast: Annie had a spinal stroke the night before starting seventh grade. Once she got back to school, she had to wear a surgical halo to stabilize her spine. So, she went “trick-or-treating” as an angel.

Annie had a spinal stroke the night before seventh grade. When she got back to school, she had to wear a surgical halo to stabilize her spine. So, she went ...

09/02/2025

🎧 Listen now: One late-night drive left Amber paralyzed and shaped her future in ways she never expected.

Amber was 15 when a late-night drive with her family ended in a crash that left her paralyzed. Years later, what happened that night would haunt her in ways ...

08/21/2025

A song of strength, hope and community.

08/05/2025

From our Blog:
2025 Best Rehabilitation Hospitals - A total of 1,049 rehabilitation facilities were evaluated and ranked the top 50.

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 rankings of the top U.S. rehabilitation hospitals.

07/29/2025

New Podcast Episode:

Rob was a 17-year-old star football player with big plans for college. But one rainy afternoon on the job, a crash left him paralyzed and forced him to trade touchdowns for something way tougher.

Rob was a 17-year-old star football player with big plans for college. But one rainy afternoon on the job, a crash left him paralyzed and forced him to trade...