Julie Hill is a volunteer, skills trainer, and mentor to fellow people who have sustained spinal cord injuries. In 1990, Julie herself was paralyzed from the waist down from a car crash. She says that having a strong support system of individuals in similar situations can be very helpful as one navigates life post injury.
In 2011, Julie trained as a volunteer mentor. Her hopes were to pass along some useful information and tips and tricks to people who were newly injured. She has since become a mentor to 20 individuals and counting.
“The (mentor) training shows you how to use your personal experience to help others adjust to life with a spinal cord injury. People rely a lot on their family and friends, but actually talking to someone who’s been where they have really helps.”
Learning how to do daily practicalities of a spinal cord injury helps with rebuilding independence, says Julie. She recalls how she told one of her mentees (Laura) about a wheelchair skills course, and how the course then had a positive impact on Laura’s life.
“My last call with Laura ended on a much more positive note. The skills session has helped her get out more in her wheelchair and enjoy herself again.”
Jill’s wish is that the people she has become a mentor to will continue to pay it forward, and become a mentor themselves one day!