This comes to us from disability advocate and friend of the Foundation, Lauren DeBruicker in regards to something that has been in the news a lot lately, accessible taxis. Read on:

Dear friends in Philadelphia’s wheelchair-using community,

In order to make taxicabs in all parts of Philadelphia more accessible to people with disabilities, the Philadelphia Parking Authority announced on Friday that it is seeking to amend local taxi regulations to require that 300 of Philadelphia’s taxis be wheelchair-accessible by the end of this year, and that 100% of Philadelphia’s taxis be accessible by 2016. Currently, there are only 2 accessible cabs in operating in Philadelphia.Read More

H old a party to highlight priorities & mobilize people in fun, thematic way
A sk members of your community and/or constituency to get involved
P ublish an article or study with facts detailing needs you are addressing
P ost news links on your Facebook page to inform friends about issues
Y ell, yodel, yowl against injustice but also hear, listen, ask, read, think Read More

CDC Will Not Move Forward with Consolidation of Disability Programs.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that it will not move forward with consolidation of funding of disability programs through the National Centers on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). Over the past months, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has been working with all our advocates and others in the disability community to reach out to Congress and share the personal stories of how consolidation would impact them.Read More

It is not always easy to express the amount of respect, joy, love, or admiration you have for someone...especially someone you have never met, never will meet.

With this, I speak of Christopher Reeve. This Saturday, September 25, would have been his 59th birthday. I, as well as I hope many of you, will celebrate this day, not mourn it. Even after Christopher (and Dana) are no longer with us physically, there is no doubt they are here in other ways.

They are everywhere... How we can look at the impact of Christopher in the paralysis field, and not be moved is simply impossible.

So even though I am writing this birthday wish in honor of Christopher as someone who never knew him, I encourage you to read this letter from his oldest son, Matthew, someone who knew him quite well. Here's part of the letter:

Rather than allowing his injury to define him, my father redefined what was possible for people living with spinal cord injuries. And, with the generous help of caring friends like you, he energized an international search for treatments and cures for paralysis -- a search that, with your help, led to this remarkable breakthrough.

We are now closer than ever to realizing my father's dream of regained movement, recovered function, and new steps for individuals living with spinal cord injuries. And though he is not here to continue the journey with us, you and I keep his memory alive by carrying on the work he began. (Picture credit above: Ken Regan; Matthew, Christopher, and Alexandra 1996)


Read all of Matthew's letter here.

Happy Birthday Christopher. May we all celebrate your legacy!

Janelle

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I look up the definition of "power" and all the definitions I am finding don't really express the power of our Social Mediathon this past Tuesday. The theme of the first ever Reeve Foundation Social Mediathon was "The Power of We;" all of us coming together to empower the paralysis community to raise funds for our mission of "Today's Care. Tomorrow's Cure.

We raised over $4,000 and counting. But more than this tangible amount was the intangible evidence of everyone who supported us. This, to me, is "power."

So I thank everyone on behalf of the nearly 5.6 million Americans living with paralysis for their support, compassion, and selflessness to spread the message. (8-year-old Chase Ford, pictured, is walking again thanks to the Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network.)

My favorite quotation that we used in many of our posts was from Dana Reeve, "Giving back is the rent you pay for being on the planet." It is so simple, yet, well, powerful. While we are all on our Facebook and Twitter accounts several times daily, we gave back during the Social Mediathon to disperse our message into cyberspace, to donate, to support our work.

So one more time, I will say, thank you, because each and every one of you is ultimately THE POWER OF WE. YOU are part of this movement.

Janelle

PS: There's still time to donate. We are asking to donate $1 for every year you have been fortunate enough to walk. Whether it was $5 or $500, you are helping us to carry on Christopher and Dana's legacy.


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We are just days away from the Reeve Foundation's first ever social mediathon happening on Tuesday (September 20) beginning at 8am.

That's right, I'll say it again so you can mark your calendars:
REEVE FOUNDATION SOCIAL MEDIATHON
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
8AM - 11:59 (EST) PM

Here's the plan people. Plain and simple. Via social media (mostly Twitter and Facebook) we are trying to raise awareness and donations for our mission of "Today's Care. Tomorrow's Cure." Sounds easy, right? It is, I promise. So now you're probably wondering, 'Well, that's easy enough, how can I help?' Great question!

1. First, click here: it outlines the social mediathon with all the basics you need to know.
2. Then, click here to donate ($1 for every year you've been walking) and help us kick this off!
3. Finally, be sure to post it on your own Facebook and Twitter pages, email your friends and family, spread the word!

THE POWER OF WE! That is what this is all about. Coming together via the power of cyberspace and the social media world. We are asking to let your fingers do the talking so that those living with paralysis may have the chance to start walking!

Are you in? Let's go!

Janelle
 

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On September 20, next Tuesday, the Reeve Foundation will be hosting their first ever Social Mediathon. We are letting your fingers do the talking so others may have the chance to start walking!

Via Facebook, Twitter, and all other forms of social media, this 16-hour event will consist of promoting our mission to raise funds for "Today's Care. Tomorrow's Cure." Messages posted and tweeted throughout the day will ask for donations to support the Reeve Foundation's efforts in honor of spinal cord injury awareness month.

The event, ongoing from 8 am to 11:59 pm EST is ultimately, the power of we.

Join us, our ambassadors (like Major League Soccer star Daniel Hernandez pictured at left,) friends (like Team Reeve athlete John Carson pictured at right,) and celebrities (stay tuned to find out who!) as we raise awareness among the social media crowd to the fact that we cannot support the research without donations and motivate social media followers to make a gift to help find cures.

We are asking people to give a dollar for every year that they have been walking.



We hope you'll join us!

Help get us started, donate now!

Janelle

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On Tuesday, August 16, join the Reeve Foundation at 3pm (EST) for a free advocacy webinar on how you can help save disability programs.

Panelist(s) Info:
George Jesien, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Roberta Carlin
Executive Director
American Association on Health and Disability

Dan Ignaszewski
Government Relations Coordinator
Amputee Coalition

Ronnie Tepp
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Duration:
1 hour

Description:
CDC funds critical programs through the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) that directly impact the day to day lives of those living with disabilities. This year, the President's budget proposes to consolidate all disability division programs over a three year period. Funding NCBDDD in this way is DEVASTATING for the health, independence and quality of life for those living with disabilities.

While Congress focuses on the numbers, we need them to focus on the faces of those directly impacted. This webinar will provide you with the background, training and tools needed to meet with your Members and let them know how consolidating NCBDDD funding in this way impacts you.

In this one hour interactive session, leaders in the disability community will provide you with:
* Background on the NCBDDD funding consolidation and walk you through the politics.

* In-depth training on what’s been done so far, why this is so critical, and what we need to do next.

* Tools to take ACTION!

* Opportunity to ask questions and hear from others in the community.

Register now!

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Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”

When Lombardi said this years ago, I don’t think he knew he was directly speaking to Rutgers University football player Eric LeGrand.

By now, we all know this story of Eric. One bad hit on the gridiron changed his life forever on October 16, 2010. One-quarter of an inch, one second slower, one play later… it all could have been different. We know the “what ifs.” But we can’t dwell on them… and neither does Eric.

Eric and his mom visited the Reeve Foundation’s Short Hills, NJ office on Tuesday. Like any other 20-something-year-old, Eric is just living his life. The only difference? Eric smiles more than anyone else I have ever met (above.) Some might wonder what he has to smile about. I think his mom, Karen, said it best. (Eric, Karen, and Reeve Foundation staff, Alan Brown, Maggie Goldberg, and President & CEO Peter Wilderotter pictured below.)

When I asked her about this journey they have been on and what happens next, she simply said: “Oh we’re still on it. The sky’s the limit.”

I introduced myself to Eric as the office’s “resident football fan” (and then my coworkers chuckled and said ‘Fins up!’) So naturally, Eric’s story hit me more than most spinal cord injury cases I hear about. I questioned if I would ever be able to watch football the same again. No question, I’m still as big a fan as ever (just ask my boss… I’m debating which Dolphins game to fly out to Miami for this season!)

So when it comes to the pigskin and the turf, I wondered how Eric felt now. I asked him, “What would you tell the football world now?” Admittedly, I was expecting his answer to be on the cautious side, but just like with his contagious smile, he surprised me and said, “Play hard. Every single play. You never know when it’s your last.”

Ever since I was six-years-old, my idol has always been the legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback, Dan Marino. I met Marino when I was 16-years-old, was completely star-struck, and could barely utter two words. Standing in front of him, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

With Eric, I got that same feeling. (Eric and I pictured at right.) Except it was when I went home Tuesday night and replayed the meeting in my head. I have been following Eric’s story for months but being able to just chat with him and his mom for a few minutes gave me a sense of what Christopher advocated for, “Nothing is impossible.”

So many people look up to Christopher and Dana. So many people now look up to Eric. So who does Eric look up to? Ray Lewis, linebacker of the Baltimore Ravens, and Terrell Davis, former running back of the Denver Broncos.

What do all of these people have in common? They are leaders. To quote Lombardi one more time, “Leadership is based on a spiritual quality --- the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.”

Thank you Eric, Karen, and the entire paralysis community for being leaders. Let’s all join together and stand up for those who can’t!

Look for Eric on ESPN Thursday at 3:15 (EST) as he stops by to talk about rehab and life after his injury. (Update: Here is the link to Eric's ESPN appearance.)

Janelle

Share your thoughts on Eric.

More from CBS Sports.
 

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No two success stories are alike -- except for one thing. Most of the individuals living with paralysis and spinal cord injuries that I have spoken to have said that walking isn't always the first thing they want back.

Do you agree?

The Reeve Foundation wants to know: As a person living with paralysis, what one function would you most like to regain?

We have set up an easy poll with 11 choices from you to chose from -- everything from bowel and bladder functions to spasticity and sexual functions.

So let us know!

Take the poll now!

Janelle


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We need your help! Please call your Senators today and urge them to sign on to the Senate Dear Colleague letter supporting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding.

Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are circulating a letter to other Senators asking for their support in maintaining a strong federal commitment to the NIH in FY 2012.

The NIH is the largest funder of biomedical research in the world for many devastating diseases and conditions, including research for paralysis and spinal cord injury.

The deadline for signatures is close of business today (Thursday, June 9th). Your immediate action is essential to ensuring Congressional support for NIH’S innovative, life-saving programs and research.

Please help the paralysis community by calling your Senators and asking them to show their support by signing the Senate NIH Dear Colleague letter today!

Click here to get the phone number of your elected official.

Find out more about what the Foundation is fighting for in Washington.

Rob

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Today is the 16th anniversary of Christopher Reeve's spinal cord injury from an equestrian accident. Ever since that day, Christopher became the courageous face of spinal cord injuries.

Sixteen years later, with the very exciting research breakthrough announcement last week, I can't help but to wonder how Christopher and Dana would feel if they were here to witness it. Fifteen, 20, 50 years from now when more breakthroughs emerge, I will be able to say "I remember when..."

So, on that note, Christopher said, "Nothing is impossible." How about that? Nothing is impossible, eh?

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What does this breakthrough mean to you?

Janelle

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This story comes from Minneapolis about a teenager living with paralysis from a diving accident three years ago who is inspiring lawmakers to target drivers breaking the law to help fund spinal cord research.

Gabe Rodreick is a paraplegic and undergoing intensive therapy with the goal of one day walking again.

State Representative Jeff Hayden noticed Gabe's work ethic and crafted a bill that would require drunk, reckless, and distracted drivers to pay an extra surcharge to get their licenses back.

The money would then be spent on spinal cord research.

Rep. Hayden says bad drivers who at times paralyze innocent people should pay for work that could one day help victims walk again.

Watch the video.

Want to take action? Visit our advocacy center to learn how.

Janelle

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We only launched the 2011 Best Dad on Wheels contest on Wednesday and already we have some awesome submissions, but we still want more!

Here's one that really touched us. We couldn't help but to share it.

Christopher Bridgman's wife, Jennifer, wrote this about her husband, who shattered his T12 and L1 vertebrae in February of 2010 in a dirt biking accident. 

Christopher Bridgman is the kind of father that legends are made of. He is patient and playful, affectionate and attentive, loyal and loving. Paralysis, depression and nerve pain are no match for Chris's desire to be a hands-on family man. There is no room for self-pity in Chris's life, he is too busy raising our son, providing for our family and counting all the blessings in his life.

In addition to this beautifully written essay and photo at right, Jennifer also submitted a video of Christopher's life. Have a look.

Nominate a dad you know who is living with paralysis to be named the 2011 Best Dad on Wheels. Just go to www.ChristopherReeve.org/bestdad.

Janelle

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