Physician-assisted Suicide

This Advocacy Live session explored physician-assisted suicide—what are the requirements and procedures, and most importantly, what are your experiences and attitudes towards the procedure?

United Spinal members struggle daily with the benefits and healthcare systems—is physician-assisted suicide really a choice for the dying, or a false alternative for those who can’t get appropriate care and equipment?

Participants included Andres Gallegos, Chairman of the National Council on Disability, Ellen Leigh and Melinda Simms, United Spinal advocates from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and Vincenzo Piscopo, United Spinal President & CEO.

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Action Alerts:

• opens in a new windowImprove Access to Catheters
• opens in a new windowIncrease Funding for Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
• opens in a new windowImprove Access to Wheelchairs

Mar 30, 2022:  Access to appropriate rehabilitation varies a great deal from one state to the next and from one facility to the next. Listen in to this webinar to find out what United Spinal Association is doing to help maximize rehabilitation outcomes for people with SCI and what you can do to join future advocacy efforts to help your fellow SCI’ers. You will hear from Federal officials and leaders in the consumer advocacy space on innovative programs and initiatives both at the Federal and state levels.

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt
Director, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research opens in a new windowhttps://acl.gov/about-acl/organization/leadership#NIDILRR

December 15, 2021: United Spinal Association’s Advocacy and Policy department provided a 2021 Advocacy & Policy Wrap-Up and 2022 Preview, with presentations from United Spinal advocates on advocacy and policy successes from across the country. United Spinal advised on how to recruit advocates to state and local advocacy campaigns and provided information on how to help boost regional and chapter advocacy coordination. We also announced some great prizes as part of our year-long District Mobilization campaign and 75th anniversary advocacy challenges.

Guest Advocate Speakers:

• Bill Bogdan, Disability Liaison, Illinois Secretary of State – Illinois Chapter, United Spinal Association
• Rebecca MacTaggart, Chapter Advocacy Representative, Advocacy Co-chair and Secretary, Western Pennsylvania Chapter, United Spinal Association
• Alex Thompson, Chapter Advocacy Representative, Hudson Valley, NY Chapter, United Spinal Association
• Tenesha Ulrich, Chapter Advocacy Representative, Vice President, Northwest Ohio Chapter, United Spinal Association

September 23, 2021: Air travel continues to be a challenging endeavor for many wheelchair users. Listen in to this webinar to find out what you can do to help protect yourself in your travels. You will hear from Congressional champions and leaders in the consumer advocacy space and the airline industry on the latest updates and tips and tricks on how you can make your travel as stress-free as possible.

March 29, 2021: Broadband enables many of us to work remotely and learn virtually, meet with healthcare providers and connect with loved ones. And with more Americans staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of our lives have been redirected online. Broadband connectivity has become a vital tool for engaging with the world. But today, millions of Americans, especially people with disabilities, do not have broadband access. Many cannot afford it or do not have the digital skills to use it. That needs to change.

Watch video to hear from United Spinal advocacy and policy staff, advocates and special guests to find out how to improve access to broadband for the benefit of all.

July 15, 2020: Spend some time with United Spinal Association celebrating 30 years of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act and see what more we can do for the disability community in the years ahead. Along with our distinguished guest speakers below hear from United Spinal advocates from across the country.

June 24, 2020: Telework/assistive technology; telehealth/rehabilitation; and accessible and autonomous transportation in the age of COVID.

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opens in a new windowThe “Working Works” PSA Campaign

May 21, 2020: This Zoom meeting focused on the challenges the disability community faces related to caregiving, personal protective equipment (PPE), medications and supplies issues as well as home and community-based services. You will get updates from United Spinal advocacy and policy staff on what has been accomplished so far and where we go next. Press play to hear from our own state advocates and find out what they have been up to in the states. And get the very latest news from our guest speakers from Capitol Hill and what is upcoming.