Christopher Reeve Foundation Awards Grant to VCU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

By Michael Ford
University News Services

The Christopher Reeve Foundation has presented a Quality of Life grant to Virginia Commonwealth University for an outreach program that promotes increased physical and recreational activities for minority spinal cord injury patients.

Michelle A. Meade, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the VCU School of Medicine, is principal investigator for the $15,000 award. The grant will help fund “PosAbilities Unlimited: Outreach to Minority Populations with Spinal Cord Injury to Increase Physical and Recreational Activities,” a program of educational efforts and community events.

“We plan to educate businesses, facilities and organizations in minority communities about the importance of being accessible to individuals with disabilities,” said Meade, who also serves as the director of spinal cord injury research in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

“We also plan to offer scholarships to allow persons with spinal cord injuries who may not otherwise be able to afford to participate in a recreational activity to do so.”

PosAbilities Unlimited is a network of organizations working to bring together people interested in adaptive recreation. Organizations affiliated with the network include VCU’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the Old Dominion chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, the Virginia Department of Health, Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital and Compliance Alliance.

Quality of Life grants, conceived by Dana Reeve, chair of the Christopher Reeve Foundation and widow of the actor who suffered a spinal cord injury, are given to programs or projects that improve the daily lives of people living with paralysis, particularly spinal cord injuries. Funding is awarded twice a year to programs in 13 categories including, accessibility, advocacy, arts, assistive technology, children, counseling, education, employment, health promotion, independent living, practical services, sports and recreation and therapeutic riding.

The Christopher Reeve Foundation in 2005 has awarded approximately $850,000 in Quality of Life grants to 108 organizations across North America.