At Brethertons we are obviously very proud of our connections with the Spinal Injuries Association. I was moved to write this short blog having read this month’s Forward magazine which really does make excellent reading. Forward is the Spinal Injuries Association’s bi-monthly magazine available to all SIA members in printed and online versions.
The magazine is always a good read but articles in the February edition really did push the bar higher for future editions.
I particularly enjoyed reading about the Rebuilding Lives Award nominations. Our association with Nic Kane is perhaps known but his mother’s moving words in publicising this year’s awards are really touching. Nic won the Inspirational Achievement for Young People at last year’s Spinal Injuries Association Rebuilding Lives Awards. Nominations for this year’s Awards are now open.
The launch of the SIA statement on autonomic dysreflexia was also eye catching. As was the other article Brian O’Shea contributed to along with Simon Legg “Social Care from the council or Continuing Healthcare from the NHS”. I have listened to Brian O’Shea lecture on this area and he cuts through the red tape that is the benefits system with ease. Getting access to the right care and support from the State is vitally important. Our own partnership with the Oxfordshire Welfare Benefits Scheme (and that I have blogged about separately) was formed in recognition of the needs most people with spinal cord injuries have where State assistance is concerned and the help available via the SIA is worth being aware of.
Other points of interest were the work done by Ripple Productions – a series of podcasts called “Life After A Spinal Cord Injury” and the good work being done by organisations such as Tryb4ufly, Yes4access.com (the Trip Advisor of accessible travel!), Euan’s Guide and The Wheelyboat Trust. All these articles about genuinely positive, helpful and innovative groups and organisations that help those with spinal cord injuries are well worth reading.
Being a solicitor, John Borthwick’s article “A time to think about the future” setting out the importance of making Wills and estate planning also grabbed my attention but so too did the piece by Sarah Tennant and Simon Brierley “Carry on in Reykjavik”. Iceland may now be on the bucket list.
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