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Welcome to our Spinal Cord Injury Community! Meet Aaron Baker, Shield HealthCare’s Spinal Cord Injury Lifestyle Specialist and recovering C4-5-6 complete quadriplegic. Aaron is also an athlete, ambassador, entrepreneur and father. Here you can find accurate and motivational information about acute and post-acute recovery, health and ongoing management of a Spinal Cord Injury. We hope you join us and explore our library of helpful resources. The possibilities are endless!
In a moment, your life changes. We’re here to support you through the many difficult moments in the recovery, rehabilitation, and rebuilding of your life. Explore Aaron’s many articles on learning to eat, walk, and move your body, pushing through limitations with the power of your mind.
Whether you’ve been living with your injury weeks, years, or even decades, there’s always something new to learn. From pain management and spastic bowels to sleeping, parenting, and accessible travel tips, there’s information for everyone living with permanent injury. Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Ask Aaron!
From interviews to how-to’s, some things are best explained in person. Watch these videos for great tips from Aaron and other injury survivors. Are you looking to travel? Explore our Mobility in the City series, and see what accessible activities cities have to offer across the U.S.!
Disability Representation on the Big Screen Lights! Camera! Action! This holiday season, the anticipated release of Wicked is breaking down barriers of genre, race and now accessibility. Marissa Bode is making history by authentically using a wheelchair to play the character, Nessarose, the younger sister of the wicked witch, Elphaba. Marissa Bode began using a… Continue reading Disability In Hollywood
U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) Over the summer my family and I cycled across the United States, 2,448 miles along America’s main street, Route 66— Raising awareness and funds for disability. While enroute, we also discovered many accessible trails for our leisure. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily they were accessed by… Continue reading Accessible Trails for People with Disabilities
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve Permobil Foundation is on a mission to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities by helping them achieve independence and strength. The Foundation’s “Hero Award” has been given each year since… Continue reading Permobil Foundation Honors Aaron Baker With Hero Award
This past June, my family and I embarked on our two-year-long Adversity Into Adventure World Tour. A few months into our adventure, we found ourselves in Utah for an extended period of time, coming in and out of the state after visiting our friends, Access Unlimited, in Montana. If you are looking for adaptive sports… Continue reading By Land & By Water: Adaptive Sports Programs in Utah
Foot drop – also called drop foot – is a condition in which you struggle to raise the front part of the foot. People with foot drop might sometimes drag their toes when they walk due to weakness or paralysis of certain muscles of the foot. It isn’t a disease, nor is it “catchy.” Foot… Continue reading How to Treat and Prevent Foot Drop
Every September 28th, we celebrate National Good Neighbor Day. Ever heard of it? Me neither! It is a day dedicated to cultivating a spirit of kindness and community – having big implications for many people, particularly those with disabilities. By strengthening our community ties, National Good Neighbor Day plays a vital role in helping those… Continue reading National Good Neighbor Day
Exploring the great outdoors is a form of medicine that should be accessible to everyone. The U.S. National Park Service recognizes this and has taken steps to make sure that individuals with disabilities can enjoy the beauty of America’s national parks. Free access to national parks for disabled individuals is called the “America the Beautiful… Continue reading Free Access to National Parks for Disabled Individuals
When Aaron Baker landed on his neck at 19 years of age, his doctors diagnosed him as a C4-5-6 complete quadriplegic and gave him the prognosis of having only a one-in-a-million chance of ever feeding himself again. He refused to accept this prognosis and fought to regain sensation. Today, his achievements include pedaling a bicycle… Continue reading Painted Toes: Reconnecting To Your Body After Spinal Cord Injury
Nutrition and exercise play a critical role in promoting recovery, preventing secondary complications, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with a SCI.
When discussing injuries to bones and joints, terms like “break”, “sprain”, and “fracture” are sometimes used interchangeably, leading to confusion. Recently, my wife and I took our daughter to the ER after a playful event turned into an injury. In trying to understand her level of pain and what that pain felt like, I wondered… Continue reading Break, Sprain or Fracture: What’s the Difference?
I have a trip coming up and I am having trouble envisioning how I can safely and hygienically self-catheterize in a typical men’s restroom stall.Travel can be intimidating with all the unknown variables, especially when it comes to using bathroom facilities that may be less accessible, unkempt and under-equipped. My best defense against this is a strong offense, meaning preparation!
