Ryan Shazier Fund For Spinal Rehabilitation

THE RYAN SHAZIER FUND FOR SPINAL REHABILITATION IS DEDICATED TO INCREASING THE POSSIBILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE.

PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI:MAY 1, 2022 THE FUND LAUNCHED THE GOLDEN WINDOW PILOT PROGRAM FOR 10 PEOPLE WITH SCI IN ALLEGHENY AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES. THE GOLDEN WINDOW PROGRAM ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS WITH AN SCI TO APPLY FOR UP TO $15,000 IN DIRECT TO VENDOR SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS ITEMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HOME MODIFICATIONS, ADAPTIVE VEHICLES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION SESSIONS. THE PILOT PROGRAM HAD ACCEPTED ALL 10 PARTICIPANTS BY LATE JULY 2022. DUE TO DEMAND ESPECIALLY FROM A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF APPLICANTS FROM OTHER COUNTIES THE FUND DECIDED TO EXPAND ITS ELIGIBLE SERVICE AREA TO MUCH OF WESTERN PA, EASTERN OHIO (INCLUDING COLUMBUS), AND NORTHERN WV. UP UNTIL MARCH 2023 THE FUND ACCEPTED AN ADDITIONAL 20 INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI TO THE GOLDEN WINDOW PROGRAM AND AWARDED OVER $300,000 IN FUNDING BEFORE CLOSING APPLICATIONS. DURING THEIR INTAKE MEETING, PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED THEIR SERVICE PLAN AND ANY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS WITH THE PROGRAM MANAGER. ONCE THE SERVICE PLAN WAS DETERMINED, PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED TO TAKE A BRIEF SURVEY. WHEN THEY WERE READY PARTICIPANTS COULD SUBMIT INVOICES WITH A COMPLETED W-9 TAX FORM FOR APPROVAL AND PAYMENT. THE GOLDEN WINDOW PROGRAM BOUGHT 2 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VANS, 7 PIECES OF IN-HOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT TO KEEP PEOPLE EXERCISING, 2 STANDING FRAMES TO GET PEOPLE UPRIGHT, 4 PIECES OF MOBILITY EQUIPMENT TO HELP SCI INDIVIDUALS GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, INSTALLED 10 RAMPS OR VERTICAL PLATFORM LIFTS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, AND HELPED PAY FOR 275 ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION SESSIONS. AND THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING! THE PILOT WAS PROFESSIONALLY EVALUATED, AND A FORMAL PROGRAM WILL BE LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2023.ANOTHER PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SCI IS THE RYAN TIME PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS SIGN UP VIA THE WEBSITE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH RYAN SHAZIER VIA ZOOM. MR. SHAZIER TYPICALLY DOES RYAN TIME EVERY TUESDAY EVENING FOR AN HOUR ON AVERAGE, WHEN POSSIBLE, WE WILL ALSO ARRANGE FOR IN-PERSON VISITS FROM MR. SHAZIER. DURING THIS TIME PARTICIPANTS HAVE A CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. SHAZIER ABOUT THEIR MUTUAL EXPERIENCES DEALING WITH SCI AND THE COMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES IT PRESENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 30 RYAN TIME ZOOMS AND VISITS DURING THE YEAR. MANY PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN RYAN TIME ARE THEN INTERVIEWED FOR A SHALIEVE STORY, WHERE THE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND SHARED ON OUR WEBSITE AND VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

PROGRAMS FOR THE SCI SUPPORT SYSTEM (CAREGIVERS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS):THE RYAN SHAZIER FUND UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT ONLY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE SCI BUT ALSO FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM. WE WORK TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE CAREGIVERS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BUILD THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS CONNECTED TO SCI. ONE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES THIS IS THE RYAN SHAZIER FUND WOODLAND FAMILY RETREAT WEEKENDS. DURING THE SPRING AND FALL WE CAN ACCOMMODATE 6 INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A FREE WEEKEND AWAY AT A COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE CAMP FACILITY. THE PARTICIPANTS SPEND TIME WITH EACH OTHER FORMING BONDS AND HAVING FUN. WEEKEND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SWIMMING, CRAFTS, ZIPLINE, BONFIRES, AND SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR BOTH CAREGIVERS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI. FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO JOIN OUR WOODLANDS RETREATS WE HOST IN-PERSON EVENTS WHERE FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER AND MEET OTHERS IN THE SCI COMMUNITY. WE HOSTED OUR FIRST SCI STREET FAIR WITH OVER 150 PARTICIPANTS. THERE WAS FOOD, GAMES, ACTIVITIES, AND LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND RECONNECT WITH OLD ONES. IN ADDITION TO THE SCI STREET FAIR, WE HOSTED BOTH AN ADAPTIVE CLIMBING EVENT AND AN OUTING TO THE PIRATES GAME AT PNC PARK. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH GIANT EAGLE TO HOST A HOLIDAY GROCERY SHOPPING TRIP FOR SEVERAL SCI COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN PERSON OUTINGS SUPPORT BOTH THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM. OFTEN THESE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TOWARDS RECOVERY AND NEW AND UNEXPECTED EXPENSES THAT THEY NEGLECT THEIR OWN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. THIS YEAR THE FUND EXPANDED ITS SHALIEVE STORY PROGRAM TO INCLUDE STORIES FROM CAREGIVERS AS WELL. A CAREGIVER STORY IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND VIA SOCIAL MEDIA EACH MONTH IN ADDITION TO THE SHALIEVE STORY.