Learning to cope with a spinal cord injury may be the biggest challenge ever faced by an SCI patient and his or her family. It is good to know that you are not alone in such a difficult situation. SCI support groups provide the opportunity to make friends with people undergoing similar challenges and also offer the opportunity to learn more about SCI and how to deal with it.
Different SCI groups have different focuses. For example, some groups focus on helping people recently injured cope with their altered lifestyle, while other groups focus on providing recreational activities for people with SCI. If you have the opportunity, investigate several SCI groups before deciding which you want to join. Some people may find that they benefit from belonging to more than one group.
Currently there are no groups specifically for SCI in Wyoming. The National Spinal Cord Injury Association can provide helpful information on starting your own support group:https://unitedspinal.org/
Here are some groups which offer various support services to persons with any form of disability.
Parent Information Center
PIC helps families better understand education issues as they relate to their child’s disability, and provide supports and encouragement to parents as they face their child’s journey through life. PIC’s services are available to parents of children, age birth to 21, with any type of disability or chronic health need.
Contact:
800-660-9742
Website:
http://www.wpic.org/
VSA arts of Wyoming
VSA arts of Wyoming is a non-profit, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing education through the arts. VSA’s mission is to involve Wyoming’s people and resources, fostering leadership in progressive programs by, with, and for people with disabilities.
Contact: 307-237-8618
Website: http://www.vsawyo.org/
Wyoming AgrAbility
The goal of Wyoming AgrAbility is to inform, educate, and assist ranchers, farmers, farm workers, and their families with disabilities, so they can continue to do what they love—ranching and farming.
Contact:
866-395-4986
Website: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/AGRABILITY/
Wyoming Family Support Network
The Wyoming Family Support Network is a coordinated network of parents who have children with special needs. These parents represent a wide variety of disabilities or special health needs.
Contact:
800-567-9376
Website:
http://www.uwyo.edu/wind//wfsn/