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It can be difficult restructuring your career and life after a spinal cord injury, especially when you live in rural Alaska, but that did not stop Lindsay Pinkelman. Despite sustaining a spinal cord injury at the “peak” of her life, she has been relentless in her pursuit of utilizing her vast school counseling skills, and she is doing what she set out to do. Read on to learn more about redesigning your career and life after a spinal cord injury.
Paralyzed in a Fall
We’ve all heard of unlikely incidents that cause paralysis and Pinkelman’s injury was just as unexpected. “I was in a freak accident at our lake cabin — a fall on a swing that left me a C5/6 quadriplegic,” she describes. And her accident came at what many would consider the peak of life.
“In 2017, at 33 years old, I was checking all the boxes in life. I am a college graduate with a Master’s degree, a husband, and three kids. We built a dream home, and I am living my professional dream of being a K-12 school counselor in rural Alaska. My life turned upside down in seconds.”
After four months in the hospital, including a stay at Craig rehabilitation hospital, she learned how to live her life from a power wheelchair. “With the support of my husband, three very young kids, seven, four, and 18 months, and numerous friends and family, we were slowly putting our lives back together piece by piece. However, I quickly realized there’s no putting back together a life once lived as much as there is redesigning a new life,” she says.
In fact, Pinkelman’s entire life had to be adjusted. “There was no house we were going back to because it was inaccessible, no job I was going back to because my disability no longer supported full-time work in any building-based school, and no disability benefits because of the Alaska teacher retirement system plan.”
“I did know that my Social Worker at Craig Hospital talked to me about the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and their support in getting people like me back to work,” she adds. Pinkleman got in touch with Elizabeth Markle, a DVR counselor who she worked with professionally in the past.
“She helps high school students transition to employment, which is what I was trying to accomplish for myself. Since 2018, Liz has had a steady positive impact on my life. The resources she has provided me, including technology equipment, business coaching, personal caregiving services, and brainstorming sessions, have been the number one positive impact on my life professionally.”
Reimagining School Counseling
With help from her longtime friend, Pinkelman was able to completely redesign her building-based school counseling skills to a virtual delivery model. “I currently contract with school districts throughout Alaska, providing school counseling services and mentoring support to School Counselors,” she says. “I have podcasted for homeschool programs, launched my own podcast, and currently offer a ‘Fire Up Your Future’ workshop coaching high school students nationwide with college and career readiness skills.”
As for the adaptive technology she uses to do her job with limited hand and arm mobility, Pinkelman uses a specialized mouse and few other items. “I basically use a Trackball mouse and on-screen keyboard, speech to text and AI.” And she is thankful to the help she received from SPINALpedia to make her redesigned school counselor career possible.
“Josh and his team have been a valuable resource as I continue to navigate all the options to support my new, redesigned professional career. We’ve met for several meetings, brainstorming options and directions for my skills while navigating disability benefits. I am so thankful to the numerous professional supports, including those I’ve mentioned, the Small Business Administration, Superintendents that I’ve worked with who see beyond disability, and Amy Tucker, my care coordinator.”
Pinkleman also has advice for employers when it comes to disability employment. “When an employer hires or contracts with an individual with a disability, they provide more than a job! They give a purpose, an opportunity to gain confidence, and a chance to network and grow professionally and personally.”
If you find yourself newly injured, Pinkleman has this to share. “Do not compare yourself to others in your situation. I spent my early days trying to find someone who ‘looked like me.’ Instead, focus on your own journey and healing.” She also says, when writing a resume as a person with a spinal cord injury, to include the skills you gained from your injury.
“My advice for employment is to include in your resume all the skills you have gained from your spinal cord injury from managing caregivers and your care plan, medication management, communication skills, problem solving skills in a way that supports the job description you’re applying for. “
And never doubt the success that may come from restructuring your career due to a SCI. “I love my redesigned life! I get to do what I love professionally: serve students and families in their educational journey from another dream house that we built surrounded by the people I love.”
— Follow Lindsay on IG
— Find more information at myschoolcounselor.com
ideas@spinalpedia.com
