United Spinal Turns 80! Celebrate With Us!

 

United Spinal Newsletter | Feb 2026 View this email in your browser

Celebrating our 80th Anniversary! Our story began in 1946, when a group of paralyzed WWII veterans banded together to lead a charge for greater civil rights and independence. Our fight for the past 80 years has been to help our community thrive while making the world more accessible. Our future is our community’s future: We’re working to make healthcare, the built environment, technology and disability-specific knowledge and resources more accessible for everyone. We’re launching four initiatives to help move our community forward: Transform Healthcare for Wheelchair Users Connect Newly Injured Wheelchair Users with Needed Resources Make Accessibility Part of Good Design Make Disability Awareness Part of Organizational Culture Learn more How to Take Beautiful Photos from a Wheelchair Members from our Outdoor Recreation Working Group reveal their secrets to capturing the perfect shot. Here is advice from Scott M. Crawford who has Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. How I Got the Photo: I was in Savannah, Georgia, to participate in the Multiple Sclerosis Challenge Walk. One morning, I saw this view of the Tybee Island lighthouse from across a foggy bog just as the sun was rising. This morning, I had a Nikon D700 with me. I propped my elbows on the arms of my wheelchair to assist with the camera weight and got the shot. Other days I use a monopod and tripod to stabilize the camera while I get the shot. My History with Photography: I started in college, working for the school newspaper and managing their darkroom. Back then, we used black and white film and it would take all weekend to develop and print just a few photographs. My Advice: Never say “no” to getting outside whenever you can. Bring your camera everywhere, because you never know what opportunity may arise. Some of my best photos were unplanned. I highly recommend cameras with GPS location mapping turned on, it helps to later know exactly where you were when the photo was taken. Continue reading Meet Felecia "With Medicaid laws in Louisiana, you’re cut off if your income is over a certain level. You’re basically having to choose between staying on Medicaid and having your care or forfeiting your career in order to be eligible,” says Felecia Woolens on our Meet an Advocate series. She shared her experience as an attorney, disability advocate and United Spinal board member with our Grassroots Advocacy Manager, Annie Streit. Annie: What are the top three issues that you would like to change? Felecia: I want to focus on changing Medicaid policies. We need more certainty that we will have caretakers and adequate healthcare. Another big one for me is accessible travel. I know United Spinal is doing some great work with regard to this. On my most recent trip, I had a layover in Atlanta and they almost dropped me. I had to reach out and go through a grievance process with that. I know a lot of my peers have experienced issues with traveling with their wheelchairs. Click for the full conversation Rolling Through Parenthood Calling all wheelchair users who are parents — at any stage of the parenting journey! Whether you’re thinking about starting a family, expecting a baby, or already deep in the day-to-day of parenting, this group is for you. Learn from one another, swap tips, celebrate wins, and find community with people who truly get it. The next meeting is March 2 at 1:00 pm ET. Email Lindsey Elliott at lelliott@unitedspinal.org with any questions or click here to register. Support our New Beginning Backpack Initiative These backpacks support people with new spinal injuries as they transition from hospital to community living. Each one includes accessibility guides, legal rights information, peer mentor connections, New Mobility magazine, and tools for self-advocacy. They're more than resources: they're lifelines. Your donation funds these backpacks and puts them in the hands of those who need them most. Help us celebrate 80 years of impact by sponsoring a backpack today. Sponsored Content As FIFA World Cup 26™ approaches, accessible places to stay are more important than ever. Airbnb Academy invites you to a free webinar for the accessibility community, sharing how hosting and showcasing your home’s accessibility features can create welcoming stays—and new income opportunities. Join us on February 26 at 2 pm ET. The University of Minnesota is seeking women with spinal cord injuries/disorders, family members, caregivers, healthcare providers and researchers for a 10-minute survey to set key research priorities. To ensure the findings serve all women, they are actively seeking participants from diverse backgrounds and identities. Learn more & apply. Researchers at the University of Illinois are conducting an online study on fall prevention. Participation includes completing online surveys, learning fall prevention strategies and participating in a group discussion. Earn up to $180 for participating. Interested? E-mail: dpqol-fallprev@illinois.edu. Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) help people with disabilities live, work and participate in their communities. The Lead Center shares how DSP experience can lead to many career pathways! Events Get connected with our free virtual events! Join the conversation — there's something for everyone. Click for more information and to register: • Active Project Live • Advocacy Live • Empowering Parental Caregivers • Resource Center Live • Aging with a Disability • Rolling Through Parenthood • Rolling With Pride • Social Hour • Walking Rollers • Women with MS Connect NEW   VIEW ALL EVENTS

Copyright © 2026 United Spinal Association. All rights reserved.

NADD Newsletter: Reimagining Supports for Dual Diagnosis

 

Please Join Us This Week! On Wednesday, February 25th Jeanne Farr, NADD CEO, and Carly Winnie, NADD COO, will be keynote presenters at Merakey's upcoming virtual conference, Whole People, Whole Systems: Reimagining Supports for Dual Diagnosis. The conference is free, and continuing education credits are available for those who wish to participate.  REGISTER NOW! Visit The Link Center Website →www.thelinkcenter.org Get Engaged! The Link Center bridges disability and mental health systems by supporting state agencies with policy development, service design, and coordination, while also sharing resources with individuals, families, and other stakeholders. Its work emphasizes person-centered, trauma-informed, and community-responsive approaches. The Link Center is guided by a steering committee of people with lived experience and operated through a partnership of national disability and mental health organizations working alongside self-advocacy groups, university-based disability centers, and other key partners. Explore related links, learn more about our initiatives, and find new ways to get involved: https://thelinkcenter.org/get-engaged/ Nominate Someone You Know! NADD Award Nomination Deadline: March 1, 2026 Nominations are now open for the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed Annual Awards! Help us recognize individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health. Awards will be presented at the Awards Luncheon during the NADD Annual Conference, October 7–9, in Pittsburgh, PA. Recipients will receive complimentary conference registration and hotel accommodations to attend the conference and be recognized for their outstanding contributions. NOMINATE Congratulations! Tancell Care and Autism Pride Center in Las Vegas, NV for NADD Accreditation! NADD Accreditation & Certification Learn More HERE   NADD membership provides unlimited free access to our international, peer-reviewed research journal, Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities: Advancing Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities and Related Neurodevelopmental Conditions. This leading publication features cutting-edge research, innovative practices, and global perspectives dedicated to improving mental health supports for individuals with intellectual and related neurodevelopmental disabilities. Open-access articles are available to all readers. We invite you to explore the open-access article, “Barriers to Mental Health Assessment and Treatment for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: Findings from a National Service Development Project in Norway.” This important study examines systemic and service-level challenges that impact access to equitable mental health care — and highlights opportunities for meaningful change. READ MORE NADD supports the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) AAIDD Sponsorship Now Open! Planning is underway for NADD's 43rd Annual Conference. October 7-9, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. NADD is now considered the leader in education, consultation, and training related to intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. NADD influences policies at the national, state, and local levels leading to more community-based, whole-person treatment for the mental health needs of those with IDD. NADD continues to host annual conferences, publish the most up-to-date research, and hold professionals to the highest quality of supports.  CONFERENCE With the support of our members, partners and volunteers, NADD is able to provide a network for continued advancement of research and quality supports for people experiencing intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. To become a member of this network and community, join us via the link below. Not a NADD Member? Become one today, starting at just $99 per year. JOIN NOW FOLLOW NADD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Family Connection of South Carolina: February 2026 Updates for Families and Partners

 

New details now available! Visit our conference page.

Celebrating Professional Growth: Maria Johnson & Paola Lozano! Congratulations to Maria Johnson and Paola Lozano for completing the Professional Interpreter in Special Education program at UGA—strengthening language access for families during IEPs and special education meetings.

First Steps 4K – Apply Now Families of rising 4-year-olds can now apply for First Steps 4K programs at more than 300 locations statewide. Check eligibility and apply today

	SC Partnership of Disability Organizations Disability Advocacy Day Join advocates from across South Carolina at the State House (North Steps) on March 4th!  Sign-in at 9:30 a.m.; program begins at 10:00 a.m. Learn more and register.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden will host a sensory-friendly day on Monday, March 10, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Learn more.

	Your Voice is Key! The Institute for Families in Society at USC are conducting this survey to obtain a current snapshot of both the behavioral health workforce serving children, youth, and their families.

Access & Independence Advocacy Day at the SC State House (North Steps) will highlight barriers to community participation for people with disabilities. April 14, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Did you know Family Connection serves more than 6,000 families across the state each year? Support our work so we can continue offering services at no cost to families!