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November 2017 United Spinal Association Chapter Leaders Newsletter

Welcome to United Spinal Associations Quarterly Chapter Leadership E-Newsletter

A message from the CEO: Dear Chapter Leaders, It was great to see many of you at our Chapter Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas October 19-21, 2017. We discussed United Spinal’s efforts to expand our government relations program to assist chapters with grassroots advocacy. Chapter leaders met new Grassroots Manager, Cindy Otis, a wheelchair user formerly of the CIA, who was published just two weeks ago in the NY Times and whose authored a novel about to be published. Cindy, will be managing grassroots advocacy and working with all of you soon, if not already. Chapter leaders also met Karon Williams, VP of Strategic Growth and Development. Under her stewardship, United Spinal has received a large hurricane relief grant from the Nielsen Foundation. The grant will provide relief to people with spinal cord injury who have suffered losses from the 2017 storms that hit Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. United Spinal tries to be a voice for our community in Washington, D.C. and nationally through our websites and publications, but the heart of this organization are its members, its chapters and their leaders. As United Spinal grows, so do its chapters and chapter networks. As chapters grow, so does United Spinal Association. Special thanks to United Spinal staff for making our Chapter Leadership Meeting the success it was and especially to Nick LiBassi, our VP of Partnership Expansion, for his intrepid efforts. Yours truly, James Weisman

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New Chapters Update: Southern Michigan The Southern Michigan chapter is excited to get started. We are a board made up of 2 occupational therapists, 1 wheelchair supplier, 1 wheelchair manufacturer representative and 1 certified public accountant. Three of us our wheelchair users. All of us have been involved in the SCI community for many years. We are currently having monthly board meetings where we are determining our goals for moving forward. We are excited to advocate on a local and national level while partnering with other local advocacy groups. We are also looking forward to building a chapter with social activities meant to increase opportunities for all of the members of the disabled community.

Pictured above: Group Photo: Jillian Walker (Vice President), Diane Thomson (president), Jim Munson (member at large)

Individual Photo: Chet Kuskowski (Secretary) Not pictured: Brad Cardew (Treasurer)

Silicon Valley Chapter The NorCal SCI (Northern California Spinal Cord Injury) Foundation was officially launched in May of this year and became the Silicon Valley Chapter of United Spinal Association (serving San Mateo & Santa Clara counties) in July. Founded by Nick Struthers and Franklin Elieh, NorCal SCI's core mission is to provide information and resources that will allow the Spinal Cord Injury Community in Northern California help each other. There are roughly 600 new cases of SCI every year in Northern California to go along with an estimated 12,000 individuals living with existing SCI. They engage and work with existing SCI support groups (including technical and web development assistance), help launch new ones in areas where no support groups exist, and work with medical and rehab facilities to provide critical services and information to the newly-injured (acute) as well as engaging with those individuals with existing SCI (chronic). NorCal SCI helps pass out Care Packages to the newly-injured prior to their discharge, has set up a phone line that allows people to call in and seek advice/assistance with any SCI-related needs, sends out a weekly newsletter to its registered users, helps organize and launch accessible events and activities through collaboration with other organizations and is in the final stages of qualifying for recognition as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3). Their web site, www.norcalsci.org, contains a robust library of content including web resources across various subject matters, calendar of activities, educational videos, listing of peer support groups and their meetings, and an archived library of stories they write every week. NorCal SCI is going through a detailed examination of short, medium and long term objectives it is setting out to accomplish while also finalizing the components for a major fundraising campaign it will soon launch. You can reach Nick and Franklin by e-mail at info@norcalsci.org.

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From left to right: Nick Struthers, co-founder; Carl McGrew, contributor; Franklin Elieh, co-founder Chapter Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas: Thank you to all of our attendees for a very successful and engaging Chapter Leadership Meeting. Although the conference is only two and a half days long we all always seem to come away with a great feeling of accomplishment. This is in large part due to your continued efforts working within your communities. Below are some topic highlights; the actual slideshow presentation can be found on the Chapter Leader Zone. https://www.unitedspinal.org/chapterleaderzone/ (PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CHAPTER LEADER ZONE WEBSITE)

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 Chapter Leader Facebook Group: Let’s stay connected!!! Join our Facebook Chapter Leaders Page! It’s a great way for all of us to stay connected throughout the year. The Chapter Leaders Group is a private group; you must be invited to join. If you’re not already a member of the group, please contact Ian Ruder at iruder@unitedspinal.org and he will send you a link to be added. We are hoping to use this group as an easy communication platform between leaders – a place to ask questions, share encouraging stories, lend support and guidance as well as post photos and build relationships. Many of you are active already but if you are not we really encourage you to remember this as a valuable tool to find help and support. We’d welcome suggestions to make it even more beneficial to the group.

Products and Services Directory: The Products and Services Directory is located on our website at http://providers.spinalcord.org. This guide is a way for members to find the full spectrum of clinical care, products and services, with an emphasis on spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D). Folks can search the directory to discover service providers near them that specialize in optimizing health, independence and quality of life of people with SCI/D. Together with your help we can build a very robust directory and here’s how:

1. For each business referral that joins the directory, your chapter will receive: $50.00 annually for each yearly member and $150.00 for each three-year member.

2. The shared amount will recur annually as long as the business remains a member. Your chapter need do nothing after the first referral. 3. The business member must enter your chapter’s “Referral Code” on the payment form that they are required to complete. You can find your “Referral Code” by clicking on the “Referral Code & Custom PDF” on the Chapter Leader Zone. You can also download a custom PDF that has your chapter’s Referral Code already embedded in it. You can use this document as a handout to businesses or email them a copy of the PDF. 4. Disbursements will be made to chapters on a quarterly basis. 5. Flyers and handouts can be obtained by contacting Megan Lee at mlee@unitedspinal.org

Policy and Advocacy Update: United Spinal Opposes H.R. 620 ADA Education and Reform Act United Spinal Association, with others in the disability community, is continuing its efforts on Capitol Hill to oppose H.R. 620 the ADA Education and Reform Act. We continue to urge both Democrats and Republicans to not co-sponsor the bill and are working to stop this legislation from coming to the floor for a full vote. Please continue to contact your Members of Congress to voice your opposition to the bill. For more information please visit our advocacy page.

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Autonomous Vehicles Working with the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets, National Federation of the Blind and others, United Spinal has a seat at the table as automakers, federal agencies and Congress craft a national policy to give automakers the chance and flexibility to test more self-driving cars on the road while keeping all the states at bay so companies won't have to try to maneuver around a patchwork of 50 sets of laws and regulations. Paramount is the issue of safety, but United Spinal is a constant voice making the case that accessibility is just as essential. Rehabilitation Research United Spinal just completed meetings with the top leadership of the National Institutes for Health with the National Institute for Neurological Disease Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to follow up on rehabilitation research efforts we successfully included into law last year. We delivered the message that by focusing on improving people’s functional abilities through research efforts on adaptive fitness and more integrated clinical studies, better health and greater independence can be achieved. Air Travel Finding solutions to keep wheelchairs safe from damages during air travel was the goal of the first formal meeting of an important group of stakeholders that United Spinal helped bring together. The RESNA ATAT (Assistive Technology for Air Travel) Committee held its inaugural meeting this month. We met with other disability organizations, airlines, wheelchair manufacturers, federal agencies and engineers working to establish standards for labeling and protective measures to safely transport wheelchairs in flight. For more information please visit our advocacy page. Wheelchairs United Spinal continues to lead advocacy and policy initiatives to improve access to all wheelchairs. Due to a recent win, earlier this year from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on protecting access to complex power wheelchairs, we are now focusing our efforts on a U.S. House of Representatives bill, HR 3730, which protects access to manual wheelchairs. For the latest initiative, visit our advocacy page for more information. United Spinal Grassroots Advocacy Network As many of you heard at CLM, we are transitioning from the Advocacy Alliance to a formal Advocacy Network, with advocacy representatives at both the state and regional levels. Setting up a formal network will help us make more of an impact with our policy and advocacy initiatives across the country. We will be announcing the new representatives in the coming months. If you haven’t already volunteered for your region or your chapter, let your Regional Chapter Coordinator or your Chapter Leader know that you are interested. VetsFirst In November, we hired Bethany Keirans, as a part-time Director of our VetsFirst program. She has served more than 8 years as a medic with the U.S. Air Force, has deployed with special operations units and recently worked as Assistant Director, Policy & Government Affairs for Vietnam Veterans of America. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks from Bethany and our VetsFirst program. Presentation from Development:

Your Community Foundation, Win-Win Development Strategies !

At the 2017 Chapter Leadership Meeting the Department of Resource Development’s Karon Campbell Williams, VP, Strategic Growth and Business Development and AJ Assaadi, Director, Engagement presented “Finish Line Focus – Your Community Foundation, Win-Win Development Strategies.” Karon and AJ, from United Spinal’s national

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office, proposed working in partnership with United Spinal’s chapters to provide expertise and best practices to submit and secure a Community Foundation funding proposal and then sharing a percentage of the award. Community Foundations (CF) are ideal for United Spinal chapter funding designed to fund nonprofit organizations with operating budgets under $100K and our mission is well suited to compliment and diversify a CF’s funding portfolio. Please review the Win-Win powerpoint presentation and take in to consideration where you are in your Nonprofit Life Cycle (both documents are located in the Chapter Leader Zone) Please contact Karon Williams, kwilliams@unitedspinal.org, to set up an exploratory discussion. Together, you will address the following items: • Background and rationale (describe the challenge, need or opportunity to be addressed and why it was chosen, how the

proposed concept was developed, who was involved in the planning) • Proposal’s concept (describe what will take place, when it will happen, where it will happen, who will make it happen,

who will participate, partnering organizations) • Anticipated outcomes to be evaluated (describe the changes or improvements you expect to occur; how the changes will

address the situation described above; how you plan to determine if expected outcomes did actually occur; and how the change will be measured)

• Capacity of grantee (brief history of the organization and how it and the project director are qualified to plan and to

implement the proposal) • Dissemination [if applicable] (if the project could be replicated elsewhere in the state or region describe how the results

will be shared at the close of the grant period) • Sustainability [if applicable] (describe how the program will be funded after the grant ends) • You’ll also be asked to provide a project budget, list of contributions from other sources, proof of tax-exempt status (if

applicable) and a list of your board of directors.   Presentation on Opportunities for Chapters: C.R. Bard Foundation Grant Application United Spinal Association is pleased to partner with the C.R. Bard Foundation in offering an opportunity for chapters to apply for one of eight $1000 grants to be used to enhance membership, advocacy or fundraising efforts within the chapter. Interested chapters will be required to submit a plan describing how the funds will be utilized to directly impact one of these areas and will be expected to submit a report detailing the usage and the plan for evaluating the success of the program. An electronic application is posted on the Chapter Leaders Zone. Applications are due by 12/31/17 and recipients will be notified by 1/19/2017. Questions can be directed to aross@unitedspinal.org. Breakout session presentations: During CLM we had several tracks that attendees could choose from. Below are highlights from each: Board Engagement (Moderated by Jim Weisman & Nick LiBassi) • Make sure to create an agenda for each board meeting and send out to board members in advance of the meeting to

ensure that they have time to review and prepare. • Identify Action items that you can ask specific board members to take charge of

o This will lead to engagement and accountability § Be sure to assign tasks that are best suited for their skill sets/expertise

• Contact your local United Way as they may be able to offer assistance with helping you to develop a stronger board • Consider having your board members contribute financially

o When they invest time and/or money into raising funds it shows their commitment and allows them to feel that they have contributed in a meaningful way.

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o Give or Get

§ As a board you can set a dollar amount that each board member must bring in during a one-year period. If you set that number @ $500.00, they can either Give $500.00 themselves or go out and Get $500.00 from their network of friends and family. (If they Get it will make more people aware of the Chapter and it’s mission)

• When you organize events it is imperative that you ask each board member to participate in a specific area of planning (again this will create accountability)

• If you would like to find out how Board of Director insurance works and what the premiums may be for your chapter you can contact our National broker: HUB International Stephen Gulino, Vice President 212-338-2277

Chapter Beginnings 101 (Moderated by Sharon Drennan, Virginia Chapter, Sharon@unitedspinalva.org o The What/Why/How of forming a chapter

Is there an unmet need in the community? Can your chapter fill that gap? Who are the stakeholders and potential partners? Can those partnerships bring value, funding?

o Mission/Vision/Values - Create these core statements as a road map to success, let them guide your work.Mission is what you do, Vision is your dream, Values are your beliefs.

o Forming an active board with working committees – You can’t do this alone, each board member should commit to a focus area and work for the organization.

o Role of the Executive Director – research job descriptions, ED’s report to the board but they also guide the organization. Understand and know that you will wear multiple hats until the organization grows and staff can be added.

o Professional Development-find local resources and learn about non-profit development, this is a great investment in your organization, well worth the time and funding. Solicit local professionals through this network that can provide skilled based volunteering to your group. Think outside of the SCI/D community for pro-bono work.

Identifying and Implementing Programs (Moderated by Rick Hayden, Southern California Chapter, scchapter2013@gmail.com) o Purpose - How to identify the wants and needs of the community we serve and then how to implement programs to

meet these needs. The group participating had approximately 20-25 people. The session was divided into four parts: 1. Identifying the wants and needs of the community 2. Determine who would benefit, who would participate 3. What resources would be needed to implement the program 4. Develop a strategy/format

The session started a bit slow as it seemed everyone thought Rick would lead the discussion however once they realized it was their session, it snowballed with some outstanding observations, idea sharing and the sharing of an experience they had with their particular chapter. Rick did little more than attempt to keep the discussion on track and to offer a bit of direction when the discussion faltered.

Support Group Development (Moderated by Lindsey Elliott) Our breakout session on support group development at CLM was full of information and shared ideas about the do’s and don’ts of staring a support group. Some of the things we covered were considerations to make when starting a support group, effective ways to structure your meetings, how to recruit support group members, creative ways to promote your support group meeting, trips and tricks to keep members coming back and lessons learned. If anyone is interested in learning more about support group development, please contact me at lelliott@unitedspinal.org for more information!

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We would like to thank our Keynote Speaker and friend, Reggie Bennett as well as our Special Guest, Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV)

Thank you to all of our CLM Sponsors:

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NEW CHAPTER LEADER ZONE WEBSITE: We have recently changed the Chapter Leader Zone website. Please note the change and save the new link.

http://www.unitedspinal.org/chapterleaderzone/ Potential Partnership/Revenue Opportunities for Chapters: At our Chapter Leadership meeting NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) presented on opportunities on how chapters may partner with mobility dealers in their area. Below is a brief recap and examples of potential opportunities for you to explore. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is a non-profit trade association dedicated to expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to safely drive or be transported in vehicles modified with mobility equipment to fit their specific needs. NMEDA’s membership currently includes over 300 mobility equipment dealers and over 40 manufacturers of both vehicles and adaptive driving equipment. To be a NMEDA member, a provider must demonstrate compliance with all requirements of the Quality Assurance Program (QAP). NMEDA QAP is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the automotive mobility industry. The U.S. government (through NHTSA) recommends that consumers contact NMEDA to locate a qualified dealer, and most state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies require that a NMEDA QAP-accredited provider perform any state-funded vehicle modifications. NMEDA’s presentation at October’s Chapter Leadership Meeting outlined several local partnership opportunities between USA chapter leaders and NMEDA’s dealer members. The ideas and information presented should help facilitate meaningful relationships between USA chapter leaders and the NMEDA dealers in your states or regions. Below is a complete listing of the ideas and opportunities presented in Las Vegas. If you have questions or would like to discuss this information in greater detail, please contact Trevor (Trevor.Jennings@nmeda.org) or Amy (Amy.Schoppman@nmeda.org). HOST NMEDA dealers can host expos, education days, community events, support groups, and chapter meetings at their store locations. VOLUNTEER NMEDA dealers can volunteer at chapter events, fundraisers, or at the local chapter office. EDUCATE NMEDA dealers can appear as guest speakers at chapter events, support groups, etc. to speak about the various automobility solutions available to your chapter members. NETWORK NMEDA dealers are established businesses in their communities. They can provide tips on how to approach other businesses in your area, and can also make direct introductions to other businesses. PROMOTE NMEDA dealers tend to be well established on social media. They can use their online presence to help raise awareness of, and attendance at, chapter events or other initiatives. PARTICIPATE NMEDA dealers can join chapter-planning committees for fundraisers, meetings, and other events. SPONSOR NMEDA dealers can pick up the tab for chapter meetings, group lunches, or door prizes at chapter events. They can also sponsor your local events or fundraisers.

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AFFINITY PROGRAM Some NMEDA dealers run referral programs and will donate money back to your chapter when a chapter member makes a purchase. ADVERTISE NMEDA dealers will be interested in advertising in various chapter publications (newsletters, websites, etc.).

Grant Example: The following was submitted by Herb Werner from the Northeast Ohio Chapter. Herb does a great job of explaining the purpose of the grant, the tools used to collect data and finally providing a conclusion. Congratulations on a job well done! Blueprint of Chapter Initiative Around Opportunity and Independence for People with Spinal Cord Injury Our Northeast Ohio Chapter sought to develop a program for improving life in a wheelchair built around three primary components:

• Education and understanding of medical issues and indicators of significance to individuals in our community. • Education and tools for individual exercise and healthy eating/weight management. • Group activities within Northeast Ohio for enjoyment, engagement and interaction.

A “Creating Independence and Opportunity” grant proposal was submitted and funded through the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (the Foundation) to develop and implement such a program. With the generous financial support of the Foundation and dedicated support from our local medical community, we could act on improving our quality of life in a wheelchair. Our goal was to educate and benefit all members of our community and included a group of demonstration volunteers committed to provide tracking on an ongoing, regular basis. The general population is facing the public health situation of Metabolic Syndrome, a convergence of conditions that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat and abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride numbers, increasing the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Our spinal cord injury (SCI) community is likely to be at an even higher risk due to complications resulting from our conditions. Our physicians conducted lectures educating membership on this medical issue and health strategies to manage it. It was emphasized that we were not seeking to practice medicine, but instead, provide indications and trends that may be beneficial to assessing one’s personal health. Each demonstration volunteer was provided with a blood pressure/ heart rate monitor to regularly know and understand their numbers. Numbers were recorded monthly. We additionally purchased test equipment for cholesterol, triglycerides and HgA1c numbers, however this process turned out to be problematic and is discussed later in observations. Our intent was to provide all of our member’s knowledge and understanding of their personal health indicators to be able to engage in meaningful dialogue with their primary care physicians. Exercise and healthy eating/weight management lectures were arranged with hospital medical staff, physical therapists and Registered Dieticians. We were also granted monthly access to the hospital’s wheelchair scale to enable monthly weight monitoring, which provided timely feedback. The exercise and physical activity lecture included a reminder to get physician clearance to begin an exercise program, exercise safety and exercise regimens. Demonstration volunteers received arm ergonometers, hand weights and therabands to incorporate into an exercise regimen. This provided opportunity to work on strength, endurance and cardiovascular health, in one’s own home. Additionally, the chapter purchased hand bicycles for loan (30 days at a time) to members to encourage engagement in additional outdoor physical activity, inclusive with family members and the community. Lectures related to healthy eating covered different dietary guidelines, plate composition, calorie counting and goal setting. Demonstration volunteers used a free smartphone app (i.e., LoseIt! Or MyFitnessPal) to record and monitor daily food intake, calories and exercise activity, to compare with their goals. We teamed up with a local community college for a professional chef cooking demonstration followed by a

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meal. Further, through a local grocery store, employing a licensed dietician, chapter members toured the store and heard a lecture titled “Healthy Frugal Eating,” which provided tips on meal planning, seasonal purchasing, a better understanding of terms on labels (such as organic, local, fresh, ultra-pasteurized, cage-free) and learned how to be smarter consumers. Each participating SCI was awarded a grocery gift card to try new, healthy food items. Finally, participants were given an “American Heart Association” cookbook filled with healthy eating ideas. Engagement in community activity is a vital step in the psycho-social aspect of dealing with physical challenges. By incorporating a variety of activities with our membership, we addressed some of the physical challenges associated with travel, parking, sidewalks, curb-cuts, uneven surfaces, hills, crowds, darkness, and personal safety. In turn, we benefitted from an enriching cultural or social experience and that sense of accomplishment and normalcy of involvement with these activities. The chapter utilized tickets to see the touring Broadway Series, Cleveland Indians baseball games, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball games and Blossom Music Center performances, including “Cleveland Orchestra Plays Led Zeppelin” that bridged many musical tastes, and Silk Road featuring Yoyo Ma. Results derived from monthly tracking of demonstration volunteers are summarized in the table below:

From this opportunity, we share the following observations. The grant was originally scheduled for one year. Our healthy eating/weight management curriculum involved a large and continuing educational component, a change of behavior component and a result-tracking component. Completing this program with one meeting per month was not going to be achievable and a one-year extension was requested and approved by the Foundation. It is important to be mindful that the focus was weight management. Some participants had a desire to lose weight while others wanted to stop the few pound annual increase and one focused on weight gain. Some type of competition was contemplated relating to weight, but our community chose to be more focused on collaboration and support of one another rather than competition. The tracking of food intake and exercise activity correlated to weight, heart rate and blood pressure clearly demonstrating the direct impact of one to the other and on an individual’s long-term health plan. Conclusions should be drawn only by the individual participant. Factors beyond those captured (such as medications) potentially impact numerical results. There were no winners or losers but rather better educated consumers making informed and healthy lifestyle decisions. Our efforts with the lab kits, even with nursing assistance, proved problematic, as accuracy of results appeared inconsistent. As appropriate, laboratory services should do lab work through appropriate physician order and insurance coverage. Various outings and community events were very well received and forged new friendships among members and families. For several participants, these activities were their first venture out into the community post SCI. We are hearing of community outings being organized outside of the chapter structure. Members are already reserving hand bicycles for next spring. These outings improved overall life satisfaction by proving to new SCI consumers that community integration is possible. Further, when individuals are included in community outings and events, overall psycho-social health is improved. We feel our demonstration initiative had a positive and, more importantly, a potentially sustainable impact on the lives of all members of our SCI community, providing opportunity for improving health and more fully engaging in all that life offers. With this grant, we were able to show, and prove, that life continues after an SCI and life satisfaction does not have to suffer with unhealthy habits and behaviors. We share our information in hope others consider a similar SCI support effort to encourage independence and provide opportunity for enhancement of health and happiness and express our deepest gratitude to the Foundation for their support.

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Development: See above under Chapter Leadership Meeting Update Resource Center Update: Activity United Spinal Association Information Specialists responded to incoming live phone inquiries, returned voice messages and monitored direct email inquiries entering the Resource Center via web form or other email sources such as other staff member referrals. Oct cases closed 340 Total staff interactions, all closed cases 736 Closed cases by category: 04 Accessibility 04 Adaptive Sports & Recreation 03 Become a Member 02 Benefits & Social Services 01 Chapter Contact Info 01 Employment & Education 04 Finances 20 Health & Wellness 11 Housing 05 In-Home Services 143 Member Services 09 New injury cases 07 Organization/company Inquiry 58 Peer Support 01 Psych & Social Issues 03 Research & Clinical Trials 11 Wheelchair related MSAC Engagement • The Medical & Scientific Advisory Committee members provided input related to the importance of medical

rehabilitation research, gaps in rehabilitation research, and the NIH Medical Research Plan. United Spinal Association and other members of the DRRC will meet with several NIH Institute Directors to discuss these issues.

Cases of note • Case 103803 No rehab

Ms. ______, OT, called for discharge placement guidance for a patient at their LTAC at _______ Hospital. _____ is 37 and sustained an incomplete C-7 SCI in a March 2017 one vehicle MVA. He had no health insurance and there is no potential funding stream from the accident. AR Medicaid has been applied for but no progress is being made in that regard. He was not afforded SCI-specific rehab and now has stage 4 pressure ulcers. He is medically stable but not progressing. 10/18/17 OT reports that ultimately, ‘Corporate’ made a determination to ship him off to a SNF in Utah for ‘respiratory’ and wound care therapies, still with no SCI-specific in-patient rehab provided.

• Case 104422 LA Sheriff's Deputy, Mike Boling contacted United Spinal for guidance on identifying individualized rehabilitation type wheelchairs (Complex Rehab Technology, CRT) from standard wheelchairs, both power and manual. The goal is to better education his entire Sherriff's department, particularly the LA County jail system on CRT vs. standard chairs. Provided United Spinal CRT vs Standard PDF, Disability Etiquette, Membership link and connection to Rancho Los Amigos seating and positioning clinic.

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Employment Opportunities: We have partnered with many employers who are seeking to hire people with disabilities. Attached and below are some of the current opportunities presented by these companies. Feel free to distribute to your networks. Please be sure to indicate United Spinal in referral field. Employment Opportunities We have partnered with many employers who are seeking to hire people with disabilities. Attached and below are some of the current opportunities presented by these companies. Feel free to distribute to your networks. Please be sure to indicate United Spinal in referral field. CVS – https://www.dropbox.com/s/tzlppgyqu8pi861/CVS%20Jobs%2011-6-2017.xlsx?dl=0 Mobility Ventures - http://www.amgeneral.com/careers/ Merck - http://bit.ly/NJMERCKde American Airlines - http://careers.aa.com/en/ac/careers.rss Excellus Blue Shield – 17-1121

Information Technology Business Analyst – Financial Consultant

Rochester, Syracuse or Utica

https://re12.ultipro.com/EXC1006/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*E36F948A28EACFA9

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Contract Specialist Rochester https://re12.ultipro.com/EXC1006/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*AA899D89E96BBF43

17-1112

Information Technology Auditor I/II

Rochester https://re12.ultipro.com/EXC1006/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*19B3A925E82852B0

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Investigative Analyst I Rochester https://re12.ultipro.com/EXC1006/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*F7B34A043EB770BA

Pratt & Whitney Requisition # Go By Title Location Employment Type

53849BR Senior Engineer, Aero Thermo Fluids East Hartford, CT Salary 54149BR Supervisor - Manufacturing Operations (2nd

Shift) East Hartford, CT Salary

54304BR Assembly Engineer, HSMC-North East Hartford, CT Salary 54331BR Business Manager East Hartford, CT Salary 54402BR Regulatory Compliance, Senior Manager East Hartford, CT Salary 54458BR EB PVD Engineering Source Coatings

Approver East Hartford, CT Salary

54460BR Coatings Engineering Source Approver East Hartford, CT Salary 54461BR Composites Engineering Source Approver East Hartford, CT Salary 54465BR Drug and Alcohol Program Manager East Hartford, CT Salary 54478BR Account Specialist- Fan Blades East Hartford, CT Salary 54490BR Export Control Specialist East Hartford, CT Salary 54496BR IT Business Consultant East Hartford, CT Salary 54498BR Account Specialist- Exhaust System and

Nozzles East Hartford, CT Salary

54526BR Advanced Methods Intern - Hot Section Engineering

East Hartford, CT Salary

54528BR Procurement Specialist East Hartford, CT Salary 54595BR Supplier Quality Engineer Middletown, CT Salary 54610BR Software Engineer East Hartford, CT Salary 54614BR Software Engineer , Intern East Hartford, CT Salary 54618BR Assiciate Engineer- Systems Optimization/

Advanced Concepts East Hartford, CT Salary

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54619BR Supplier Quality Engineer Middletown, CT Salary 54695BR F100 Logistics Program Manager East Hartford, CT Salary 54703BR Aftermarket Sales Operations & Analytics

Analyst East Hartford, CT Salary

54735BR Production Materials Associate- Alternative Work Week

Middletown, CT Salary

54736BR Production Materials Associate- MRJ/Neo Middletown, CT Salary 54737BR Production Materials Associate Middletown, CT Salary 54741BR Materials Manager, Commercial Product Line Middletown, CT Salary 54742BR Materials Manager, Military Product Line Middletown, CT Salary 54743BR Materials Manager, Flight Line Middletown, CT Salary 54748BR HSE Project Engineer - Entry Level East Hartford, CT Salary 54749BR F135 Product Line Management Control

Account Manager East Hartford, CT Salary

54750BR Mechanical Design Intern East Hartford, CT Salary 54762BR Contractor Program Security Officer East Hartford, CT Salary 54773BR V2500 Shop Visit Forecasting Manager East Hartford, CT Salary 54774BR 2nd shift Cell Leader/ Shift Supervisor (30k) Middletown, CT Salary 54775BR Deputy Product Line Manager, 17k/24k Middletown, CT Salary 54778BR Special Process Leader Middletown, CT Salary 54783BR Customer Training Center - Instructional

Media Designer East Hartford, CT Salary

54788BR Business Unit Manager (1st shift) North Berwick, ME Salary 54814BR Source Approval Engineer, Forgings Remote Salary 54828BR Drafting/PD Intern - HSE East Hartford, CT Salary 54829BR Midwest MCL Regional Manager Remote Salary 54830BR Senior Workscope Analyst, GTF ASC East Hartford, CT Salary 54898BR Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis;

O&R East Hartford, CT Salary

54912BR Operations Manager- Alternative Work Week Middletown, CT Salary 54930BR Analyst, Aftermarket Supply Chain East Hartford, CT Salary 54947BR HSE Structures Engineer - Entry Level East Hartford, CT Salary 54952BR Senior Workscope Analyst, GTF ASC East Hartford, CT Salary

Supporter content: Coming Soon! Technology: Coming Soon!

Thank you to our Business Members      

AbbVie Michigan Auto Law Allergan NMEDA

Belt & Bruner, P.C. Rare Patient Voice Cure Medical Trusted Mobility

Genentech The Krist Law Firm, P.C. Hill-Rom Wellspect Healthcare Hollister

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Upcoming United Spinal Association Webinars: http://www.spinalcord.org/webinar-archive/

• Adaptive Automotive Equipment Options for People with Spinal Cord Injuries Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST

Reminder:

Please send us photos of your events! We have created a form on the Chapter Leader Zone for you to quickly upload your photos and add descriptions if you choose.

Click here to upload Chapter photos 2018 Chapter Leaders Quarterly Call Schedule:

• January 17, 2018 call in #: +1 (347) 690-4420, access code: 74867846 (Dial-in Number) • April 18, 2018 call in #: +1 (347) 690-4420, access code: 71775906 (Dial-in Number) • July 25, 2018 call in #: +1 (347) 690-4420, access code: 58229561 (Dial-in Number)

A copy of this newsletter will be posted to the Chapter Leader Zone We hope that you will find time this Holiday Season to enjoy the love of your family and friends. I wish you all a joyous Holiday Season and a great start to 2018, Nick