Virtual Advocacy Day | March 26, 2025
Spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and burn injury advocates request increased funding at the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems as well as at the Burn Model Systems and the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Increased funding at all three Model Systems, including the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center is needed to translate data, research, and clinical knowledge into resources to benefit the SCI, TBI and burn injury communities.
SCI Model Systems 2025
SCIMS Slides
SCI Model Systems Funding Chart FY 2026
Current and Former SCIMS by State
Burn Model Systems 2025
BMS Slides
TBI Model Systems 2025
TBIMS Slides
Co-hosted by American Burn Association, Brain Injury Association and United Spinal Association.
Let’s Talk Emergency Preparedness: Meet a Veteran Expert and Insider | April 19th, 2024
United Spinal Association’s Emergency Preparedness Working Group helps prepare wheelchair users and people living with spinal cord injuries face natural disasters across the nation. This member-led Working Group supports the work of our Ready to Roll program in keeping our community informed and safe, and collaborating with government agencies and other groups to make sure our community’s needs are met. Insider and expert Sherman Gillums, Jr., Ed.D, Director, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, FEMA, advises FEMA regarding equity for people with disabilities, and he joined the Working Group to discuss emergency preparedness and response for the disability community. Sherman is a veteran and former Executive Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Webinar: Budget 101! Overview of the Federal Appropriations Process
United Spinal Association and the National Council on Independent Living hosted this collaborative webinar on the Federal Appropriations Process. The webinar covers:
- What is an Appropriation?
- Overview of the Appropriations Process
- Effective Appropriations Advocacy
Virtual Advocacy Day | March 13, 2024
United Spinal Association hosted Virtual Advocacy Day highlighting these two priorities with Congressional offices:
.
- Request for increased funding at the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems, as well as at the Burn Model Systems and the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. To further support the work of all three Model Systems, increased funding for the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center is needed to translate data, research, and clinical knowledge into resources to benefit the SCI, TBI and burn injury communities.
- Support updating restrictive ‘in the home’ only language in Medicare policy allowing for access to mobility devices that meet the needs of full-time wheelchair users both in the home and/or in the community; support Medicare coverage for standing systems in power wheelchairs.
Program Update Webinar | January 25, 2024
Government Relations, Advocacy & Community Supports 2023/2024 Program Update
In this webinar, the Government Relations (GR) Department hosts and shares a lot of great program updates and accomplishments from several department heads including updates on accessible medical equipment, care supports, wheelchair legislation and more.
Virtual Advocacy Day | March 22, 2023
Thank you to all of you who joined us March 21-22, 2023 for our first Joint Model Systems Advocacy Day. And thank you to our coalition partners from the Burn Model Systems and the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems for joining us as well.
We had a successful Virtual Advocacy Day with about 30 Congressional meetings and approximately 60 advocates from across the country targeting Model Systems states and Congressional appropriators.
Advocacy LIVE | October 18, 2022
Physician-assisted Suicide
This Advocacy Live session explored physician-assisted suicide—what are the requirements and procedures, and most importantly, what are your experiences and attitudes towards the procedure?
United Spinal members struggle daily with the benefits and healthcare systems—is physician-assisted suicide really a choice for the dying, or a false alternative for those who can’t get appropriate care and equipment?
Participants included Andres Gallegos, Chairman of the National Council on Disability, Ellen Leigh and Melinda Simms, United Spinal advocates from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and Vincenzo Piscopo, former United Spinal President & CEO.