Connect with our community
Peer Mentoring
In partnership with MNSCIA, and United Spinal Association, GUSU offers peer mentoring on a one-on-one basis in the community for those with spinal cord injuries and family/care givers. Peer mentoring can help those find solutions that one might not be aware of and help people adapt for a more successful life. If you are interested becoming a mentor or want a peer mentor to visit you, email us at [email protected].
Peer Group Meetings
Peer group meetings occur the 1st Saturday of every month at Courage Kenny Golden Valley - 2nd Floor Board Room. See our event calendar for more dates and events.
Women's Group Meetings
Women Staying Strong welcomes all women who have family members with spinal cord injuries. The mission of the group is to provide resources, information on research and advocacy, and to provide support for women who have family members with SCI. The group meets monthly, usually on the 2nd Sunday of the month (see the event calendar for more information and actual dates). Activities have included touring labs of spinal cord injury researchers and meeting with legislators to talk about issues related to SCI.
For more information, contact Barbara Mace at [email protected] or see the Women's Group page.
In partnership with MNSCIA, and United Spinal Association, GUSU offers peer mentoring on a one-on-one basis in the community for those with spinal cord injuries and family/care givers. Peer mentoring can help those find solutions that one might not be aware of and help people adapt for a more successful life. If you are interested becoming a mentor or want a peer mentor to visit you, email us at [email protected].
Peer Group Meetings
Peer group meetings occur the 1st Saturday of every month at Courage Kenny Golden Valley - 2nd Floor Board Room. See our event calendar for more dates and events.
Women's Group Meetings
Women Staying Strong welcomes all women who have family members with spinal cord injuries. The mission of the group is to provide resources, information on research and advocacy, and to provide support for women who have family members with SCI. The group meets monthly, usually on the 2nd Sunday of the month (see the event calendar for more information and actual dates). Activities have included touring labs of spinal cord injury researchers and meeting with legislators to talk about issues related to SCI.
For more information, contact Barbara Mace at [email protected] or see the Women's Group page.
Resource Guide
GUSU is proud to present the Upper Midwest Spinal Cord Injury Resource Guide. The goal of this book is to provide necessary resources for the newly injured in the five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), and to share information we’ve learned to help ease the burden along the road you never wanted to travel. Use the button above to view the electronic version or email us at [email protected] to request a printed copy (available early 2020).
quick links
MN Services and Information
Disability Hub MN https://disabilityhubmn.org
Disability Law Center http://mylegalaid.org/about/our-work/disability-law/ OR https://www.lawhelpmn.org/issues/disability
Other Partners
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis u2fp.org
Spinal Cord Society www.scstwincities.org
Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury Association www.mnscia.org
Minnesota Paralyzed Veterans of America www.mnpva.org
Bel13ve in Miracles Foundation www.bel13vefoundation.org
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation https://www.christopherreeve.org/
NEW: Welcome SitFit to the MN Community!
SitFit is a small and independently owned wheelchair and mobility clinic. They specialize in assessment and recommendation for all mobility including manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, power scooters, and adaptive strollers, as well as seating and positioning. Services include wheelchair and mobility assessments, seating and positioning assessments, additional equipment recommendations, and equipment use training. www.sitfitmn.com
Disability Hub MN https://disabilityhubmn.org
Disability Law Center http://mylegalaid.org/about/our-work/disability-law/ OR https://www.lawhelpmn.org/issues/disability
Other Partners
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis u2fp.org
Spinal Cord Society www.scstwincities.org
Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury Association www.mnscia.org
Minnesota Paralyzed Veterans of America www.mnpva.org
Bel13ve in Miracles Foundation www.bel13vefoundation.org
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation https://www.christopherreeve.org/
NEW: Welcome SitFit to the MN Community!
SitFit is a small and independently owned wheelchair and mobility clinic. They specialize in assessment and recommendation for all mobility including manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, power scooters, and adaptive strollers, as well as seating and positioning. Services include wheelchair and mobility assessments, seating and positioning assessments, additional equipment recommendations, and equipment use training. www.sitfitmn.com
Wheelchair Travel
Travel blogs by power chair users:
Spin the Globe/Travel spintheglobetravel.net
ABLE Bank Accounts Information
This is a savings program with tax advantages. Download more information, including 2018 changes HERE.
Fitness and Wellbeing
Courage Kenny Institute
Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute provides a continuum of rehabilitation services for people with short- and long-term conditions, injuries and disabilities in communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Programs offered:
Fit4Recovery
Fit 4 Recovery is a gym for individuals with SCI or other neurological impairments. They specialize in adaptive fitness and neurological recovery. F4R continues to morph into a highly motivated community working towards a cure for SCI. It is a place to train, learn from others, and be a part of a community with like-minded individuals. http://fit4recoverymn.com/
Mind-Body Solutions Adapted Yoga
Mind Body Solutions is a nonprofit with a mission to transform trauma, loss and disability into hope and potential by awakening the connection between mind and body best known for adapting yoga for persons living with disabilities. Increase strength, flexibility, balance and the ability to focus inward through the active practice of postures. Discover a deeper connection between mind and body. http://www.mindbodysolutions.org/
Twin Cities Adapted Cycle Club
The Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling Program is a non-profit working to increase participation and access to cycling among individuals with disabilities. https://www.tcacycling.org/
Please note, this section lists some websites that we have found useful. We do not receive compensation for promoting these links and are not endorsing or vouching for these groups. If you would like personal recommendations, contact us directly at [email protected].
Travel blogs by power chair users:
- Wheelchair Travel wheelchairtravel.org
- Curb Free with Cory Lee www.curbfreewithcorylee.com
Spin the Globe/Travel spintheglobetravel.net
ABLE Bank Accounts Information
This is a savings program with tax advantages. Download more information, including 2018 changes HERE.
Fitness and Wellbeing
Courage Kenny Institute
Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute provides a continuum of rehabilitation services for people with short- and long-term conditions, injuries and disabilities in communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Programs offered:
- ABLE – ABLE, the Activity-Based Locomotor Exercise program, is an innovative approachfor people living with paralysis or neurological conditions. ABLE delivers standardized activity-based exercises based on current scientific and clinical evidence. The ABLE program is customized to individual goals following a thorough functional and physiological assessment.
- Adapted Sports and Rec – Offers various adapted sports both in the Twin Cities area and Duluth Northland
- SHARE (Sports, Health Activities, Recreation, Education) – SHARE is a resource that provides people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to achieve physical and emotional fitness - and just have some fun.
- Aquatics Therapy – various opportunities including adapted swim lessons, aquatic Bodyworks and one-on-one personal training sessions customized to your needs
- Stay Fit – A supervised/directed exercise-based program for a range of abilities from requiring assistance less than 50% of the time to Stay Fit Extra, for those who need help with transfers and close monitoring of their exercise program. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Bikes are available as part of the Stay Fit program.
Fit4Recovery
Fit 4 Recovery is a gym for individuals with SCI or other neurological impairments. They specialize in adaptive fitness and neurological recovery. F4R continues to morph into a highly motivated community working towards a cure for SCI. It is a place to train, learn from others, and be a part of a community with like-minded individuals. http://fit4recoverymn.com/
Mind-Body Solutions Adapted Yoga
Mind Body Solutions is a nonprofit with a mission to transform trauma, loss and disability into hope and potential by awakening the connection between mind and body best known for adapting yoga for persons living with disabilities. Increase strength, flexibility, balance and the ability to focus inward through the active practice of postures. Discover a deeper connection between mind and body. http://www.mindbodysolutions.org/
Twin Cities Adapted Cycle Club
The Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling Program is a non-profit working to increase participation and access to cycling among individuals with disabilities. https://www.tcacycling.org/
Please note, this section lists some websites that we have found useful. We do not receive compensation for promoting these links and are not endorsing or vouching for these groups. If you would like personal recommendations, contact us directly at [email protected].