Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week challenges perceptions

The national week, running from 3rd to 9th September, is an initiative of the Australian Spinal Injury Alliance, representing eight of Australia’s largest spinal cord injury support organisations.

The theme of this year’s event is “I can” and is centered around challenging the perceptions of what it means to have a spinal cord injury.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, forming part of the alliance has been helping improve the lives of people living with a spinal cord injury and raise awareness of such injuries for over five decades.

“For over 50 years, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) has been providing a range of practical programmes to help people reboot their lives and address ongoing needs, in peer support, advocacy, information, accommodation, employment, National Disability Insurance Scheme advice and exercise,” General Manager of SCIA, Simon Gerathy says.

One of the ways SCIA does this is through their specialised exercise program NeuroMoves.

“Our exercise services are growing because they deliver results, catering to people with a wide range of physical disabilities,” National Operations Manager of NeuroMoves, Leah Sholer says.

The week plays an important role in helping prevent and raise awareness of life changing spinal injuries.

Every day, an Australian suffers a spinal cord injury with over 40 percent caused by traffic accidents, 40 percent by falls and 6 percent water-related accidents.

Spinal cord injuries also bring ongoing lifetime care costs and significant secondary health issues, including higher rates of mental health issues, lower rates of employment and a shortened life expectancy.

The awareness week aligns with International Spinal Cord Injury Day which will be held on 5 September 2018.

For more information on Spinal Cord Awareness Week, click here.

For more information on disability support and services, please visit DisabilitySupportGuide.com.au