A spinal cord injury affects the entire family. Our mission is to connect families dealing with paralysis with others just like them.
Like many projects of this nature, FacingDisability.com was born out of personal experience. In the summer of 1986, after diving into a swimming pool, our daughter, Vicki Hill, sustained a neck injury resulting in quadriplegia. During her rehabilitation, Vicki was fortunate to be able to participate in a peer- mentoring program. The program introduced her to other people who had sustained injuries
04/30/2026
From our blog: The review provides a long-term view of changing SCI demographics, causes, and injury severity worldwide.
Facing Disability for Families Facing Spinal Cord Injuries
Study Shows Rising Age of People Experiencing New Spinal Cord Injuries A systematic review in Spinal Cord of 27 studies (1943–2022) shows the typical spinal cord injury (SCI) patient is now 45–65 years old.
Rob: They made fun of me in the hospital.’
Rob explains why those friends meant everything after his spinal cord injury.
Facing Disability for Families Facing Spinal Cord Injuries
02/05/2026
From our Blog: S*x and intimacy after paralysis finally have a space—MetroHealth’s one-of-a-kind “sex lab” opens in Cleveland.
Facing Disability for Families Facing Spinal Cord Injuries
New S*xual Health Lab Creates a Model for SCI Care Last summer, MetroHealth in Cleveland launched the Adaptive Intimacy Lab on its inpatient SCI unit,
01/27/2026
From our Blog: A special blood screening measures biomarkers that are released when spinal cord tissue is damaged.
New Spinal Cord Injury Blood Test Could Speed Rehab Decisions A new blood test may give doctors an early read on how a spinal cord injury could affect movement and sensation.
01/27/2026
ADMIN APPROVED:
Help Improve Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Researchers at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab want people who receive HCBS to test short surveys about their services.
What’s involved:
Quick screening call by phone or Zoom (unpaid)
Two or more 10-minute surveys (online, phone, or Zoom)
$30 per survey, plus $40 for follow-ups
Complete up to 6 surveys for $200 total
Interested?
Take the screener: https://redcap.link/hcbsquality
Questions? Email: [email protected]
Funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (IRB #: STU00214517)
12/31/2025
12/23/2025
After a spinal cord injury, finding information you can trust is not always easy. That is why this page exists.
You’ll hear directly from people living with paralysis, sharing in their own words how they navigate daily life, adapt, and cope, alongside reliable SCI resources you can trust.
We believe real voices matter. We believe accuracy matters. And we believe this information should always be free and accessible.
If you are here to learn, listen, or feel less alone, you are in the right place.
Coping with Spinal Cord Injury - Video and Resources FacingDisability.com offers real-life stories and expert medical videos about living with spinal cord injury.
12/16/2025
From our blog: For people living with spinal cord injuries, service dogs can be life-changing partners contributing to a stronger sense of autonomy and control.
Service Dogs and SCI: For people living with spinal cord injuries, service dogs can be life-changing partners.
11/25/2025
What does gratitude look like from a C-5/6 quadriplegic’s perspective? Jeff Shannon knew. A veteran writer on disability issues, longtime movie reviewer, and film historian, Jeff shared his honest, thought-provoking voice with FacingDisability.com for years.
In his memory, we’re re-sharing his 2013 Thanksgiving blog post, “Giving Thanks on the 2-for-1 Plan.”
Giving Thanks - In Memoriam A brilliant Thanksgiving essay by Jeff Shannon, a veteran writer on disability issues, and a regular contributor to FacingDisability.com
11/18/2025
PODCAST: When a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury, Thea Flaum realized families were on their own. That’s why she created FacingDisability.com. It's full of medical info, and real stories from people living with paralysis.
FacingDisability.com: Resources for Families of People Living With Spinal Cord Injury When Thea Flaum suddenly found herself caring for a family member with a spinal cord injury (SCI), she quickly discovered a lack of resources and support for...