Spinalpedia’s Spring 2018 Newsletter

Spring 2018 Newsletter

Indoor Skydiving All-Abilities Night – April 30th

Spring is here! We’re  bringing people on adaptive adventures very soon. On April 30th at iFLY Indoor Skydiving in Loudoun, Virginia, we’re taking a group of people with SCI to iFLY’s “All-Abilities” night. Registration is full. To experience this adrenaline-fueled activity in the future, email us at spinalpedia@gmail.com.

SCI News: The Latest So Far in 2018

We’re dedicated to sharing the latest in SCI news on our social media platforms. Since the start of 2018 we’ve posted several exciting SCI-related links and news. We’ve chosen two of the most popular news links for our Spring newsletter (below). Follow us on Facebook for the latest in SCI News!

BioArctic Human Trials Are Underway

Nerve grafts have become a major area of spinal cord injury research and an exciting trial from BioArctic, a company in Sweden, is currently underway in Estonia. And a very exciting detail: They’re using humans to test the viability of their research.

Specifically, they’re using a biodegradable device that’s implanted into the spinal column and filled with FGF1, a growth factor that helps with neural regeneration and healing. Patients from Sweden, Norway and Estonia are currently only allowed in the trial. Learn more about this study here.

Google Maps Finally Adds Wheelchair Routes

People who use wheelchairs have long complained about Google Maps’ lack of accessible routes and it seems Google has finally listened. In select cities, wheelchair-users can now scope out the fastest accessible routes.

To find an accessible pedestrian route, go to “Directions” > “Options” and click the option: “Wheelchair Accessible.” Only New York, Tokyo, London, Mexico City, Sydney and Boston currently have this accessibility feature, but more cities will have it soon.

The Tax Cut & Jobs Act: What People with Disabilities Should Know

In 2017, President Trump signed The Tax Cut & Jobs Act, which includes changes that are making many in the disability community concerned. One of the most significant changes to the tax structure is the change in the corporate tax rate, dropping from 35% to 21%. This deficit is so big that many people with SCI are worried cuts to important state funded services like Medicaid, Medicare and SSI could occur.

The Senate voted to lower the Medical Deduction threshold from 10% to 7.5%, another worry, and they allowed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to expire. To see all of the changes to expect this tax season for people with disabilities, visit our blog post on the topic here.

Spinalpedia Helps Pass Law for Maryland Workers with Disabilities

Josh Basile, founder of Spinalpedia, recently helped pass a bill (SB 660, HB 1280) that enables Maryland citizens with disabilities make a higher income and still keep their Medicaid-paid nursing and PCA services. He advocated heavily for the bill that was passed on the last day of their state legislature.

We at Spinalpedia couldn’t be more proud. Learn more about the bill and watch an interview with Josh with NBC News here.