Two new grants have been awarded for the Paralysis Resource Center State Pilot Grant Programs by the Administration for Community Living.
State of Pennsylvania Paralysis Resource Center
The Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, was awarded a two-year cooperative agreement totaling $399,292 from the Administration on Community Living. The project establishes a Paralysis Resource Center State Pilot program in Pennsylvania. The mission of the program is to improve the quality of life of Pennsylvanians of all ages living with paralysis and their caregivers by improving or increasing the services and supports offered by community-based disability organizations.
The State of Pennsylvania Paralysis Resource Center will provide grants of up to $25,000 to nonprofit, community organizations serving people with paralysis and their caregivers in Pennsylvania. Brad Dicianno, MD, who will lead the project, says that the program is meant to increase access or delivery of services to people living with paralysis; improve quality of life and community integration; and build partnerships among organizations within PA.
Several other faculty at the University of Pittsburgh (Rory Cooper, PhD; Michael Boninger, MD; Gina McKernan, PhD; Lynn Worobey, PhD, DPT; and Amy Wagner, MD) and Magee Rehabilitation (Marci Ruediger, PT, MS) will assist Dr. Dicianno in carrying out the program. Community grant applications will be available in September 2019.
Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council
The Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council was awarded a two-year cooperative agreement totaling $400,000 from the Administration on Community Living to work with community-based nonprofits serving individuals with disabilities to increase the knowledge and understanding of preparation for an emergency or disaster through the Emergency Preparedness Project. The grants will specifically target individuals with paralysis, as well as families and caregivers.
This grant is important because people with disabilities may be at greater risk of health issues, losing an accessible home, or other impacts that can be sustained during an emergency (such as fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and more).
Through this project individuals with paralysis will have greater understanding of the preparation steps needed and the potential impacts to not planning ahead in case of a variety of emergencies. The organizations that will provide services will use multiple methods to inform and instruct individuals on the preparation for any potential situation that may arise.