BACKBONES

11/29/2025

💙Giving Tuesday is almost here — and we’re ready to make an impact! 💪

At BACKBONES, we believe in the power of community, connection, and inclusion. Your support helps people with spinal cord injuries and disabilities thrive through mentorship, peer support, and advocacy.

✨Together, we can create opportunities.
✨Together, we can make change.

Mark your calendars for December 2nd and help us spread the word! 💙

11/26/2025

💙 This Giving Tuesday, we're highlighting the strength and community within the spinal cord injury world! At BACKBONES, connection is at the center of everything we do, and monthly support helps us keep it strong 💙



Image 1: A dark blue poster with curved orange and blue accents in the corners. The text reads: "Every Day, individuals with spinal cord injuries redefine what strength looks like, and your support helps make that possible!" Above the text is an all-white Giving Tuesday logo. Below the text is an all-white BACKBONES logo.

Image 2: A dark blue poster with curved orange and blue accents in the corners. The text reads: "Our goal this season is to welcome 25 new monthly donors to BACKBONES!" The all-white BACKBONES logo is below the text.

Image 3: A dark blue poster with curved orange and blue accents in the corners. The text reads: "By being a donor, you help build a future around vital programs, peer support, and resources for people with SCI and their families." The all-white Giving Tuesday logo appears above the text. The all-white BACKBONES logo appears below the text.

11/25/2025

11/19/2025

💙 Let’s bust some Giving Tuesday myths! 💙

Giving isn’t just about money - it’s about showing up, connecting, and making a difference together.

🌟 Myth: Giving is only about writing a check.
✅ Truth: It’s so much more. Volunteering, speaking up, lending your time or expertise - those all count.
🌟 Myth: One day, one campaign, then done.
✅ Truth: The ripple continues far beyond 24 hours. Your support creates momentum, building community and connection
🌟 Myth: Big orgs only; small groups won’t be seen..
✅ Truth: Actually, smaller groups like ours can stand out - because authenticity and personal connection matter.

At BACKBONES, your support helps people with spinal cord injuries and disabilities thrive through mentorship, peer connection, and advocacy.

✨ This GivingTuesday (Dec 3), join us in breaking myths and building community. ✨

11/12/2025

🧡 November is Caregivers Month! 🧡 📣Tag a caregiver you appreciate 📣

At BACKBONES, we celebrate the incredible caregivers who show up every day with love, patience, and strength- helping those with spinal cord injuries and disabilities live, connect, and thrive. 💪

This month, let’s take a moment to say thank you to the people who lift others up- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You make independence and community possible. 💙

Tag a caregiver you appreciate! 👇 and share your story using 💬

11/10/2025

What are you grateful for today? Leave a comment below!🧡



Image 1: White text on an orange background with transparent leaves in the bottom-right corner. The text reads: "Gratitude is not just an emotion, it is a practice."

Image 2: White text on an orange background with transparent leaves in the top-right and bottom-left corners. The text reads: "Practicing gratitude can lower stress, boost mood, and remind you that good exists in the world."

Image 3: White text on an orange background with transparent leaves in the top-right and bottom-left corners. The text reads: "Keep a gratitude journal!"

Image 4: White text on an orange background with transparent leaves in the top-right and bottom-left corners. The text reads: "Express appreciation out loud to others!"

Image 5: White text on an orange background with transparent leaves in the top-right and bottom-left corners. The text reads: "Take a gratitude stroll and soak in your surroundings!"

Image 6: White text on an orange background with transparent leaves in the top-right and bottom-left corners. The text reads: "Replace thoughts of negativity with thoughts about the good things in your life!"

Image 7: White text on an orange background with transparent leaves in the top-right and bottom-left corners. The text reads: "What are you grateful for today?"

11/07/2025

🌸 Resilience and Well-Being After Spinal Cord Injury🌸

Living with a spinal cord injury or disorder comes with real challenges- physical, emotional, and social. But resilience isn’t about “staying strong” all the time- it’s about adapting, staying flexible, and finding meaning through change. 🌸✨

11/03/2025

Thank you to all of our caregivers who show their love through actions every single day!



Image 1: White text on a purple background, surrounded by a pink squiggly line. The first text line says, "Happy National Caregivers Month!" Below it, the second line reads as, "Accessibility is a collective effort. Every ramp, transfer, and routine represents teamwork, and showing up for one another."

Image 2: White text on a purple background, surrounded by a pink squiggly line. The text reads, "Caregiving is a love language of its own. Thank you to all caregivers who share it with others every single day!"

10/31/2025

🚨 TODAY is the LAST DAY to apply!
This is your final call to join the Backbones Leaders Program — a space built by and for leaders with disabilities.

You’ve got what it takes. Let’s do this.
⏰ Deadline: MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
🔗 Apply now → https://www.backbonesonline.org/leaders-program

10/31/2025

Research Opportunity to Improve Disability Access!

A team at Northwestern University is doing research to improve how health care providers collect and use information about disability status and accommodation needs for people with spinal cord injuries in primary care. Sign up to participate in an interview or focus group to share your experiences and preferences! To sign up and/or for more information, please contact: clancy.barry@northwestern.edu

10/28/2025

⏳ ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT!
Time is running out to join a network of powerful disability leaders through the Backbones Leaders Program.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.
✨ Empower your future
🌎 Build community
💬 Make your voice heard

📅 Deadline: October 31st
🔗 Apply today → https://www.backbonesonline.org/leaders-program

10/27/2025

Though COVID-19 put a halt to our lives in many ways, one of the silver linings it offered was the increase of inclusive jobs for the disabled community.

How can we maintain this momentum?
1. Be an advocate! Call for more flexible work, remote/hybrid options, accessibility in tools, and communication.
2. Celebrate accomplishments! Support talent with disabilities in your workplace and networks.
3. Share stories! Highlight successes, and listen to the voices of those around you to learn what accommodations and support actually help.



Image: Text on a blue watercolor background, with yellow lines highlighting/complementing it. The first textbox reads as: "Celebrating progress in disability employment in recent years." Below it, the next textbox says, "According to the employment and training
administration, 1.52 million working-age people with disabilities gained employment post-pandemic!" Finally, below that, the last textbox says, "the increase in work-from-home jobs has led to a historic increase IN employment for the disabled community."