PARALYSIS RESOURCES
More than 600 of the best Internet resources
on paralysis and spinal cord injury
You are not alone
Coping with Paralysis
after a Spinal Cord Injury
Coping with Paralysis
after a Spinal Cord Injury
paralysis:
living your life with a spinal cord injury
Videos to help you now:
Medical Experts:
Interviews about Paralysis
Interviews about Paralysis
Q&A: Personal Interviews
About Life With Paralysis
About Life With Paralysis
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"Voices of Experience"
FacingDisability.com connects families who suddenly have to deal with paralysis after a spinal cord injury to people like them who have already been there.
REAL PEOPLE,
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ANIMATED SCI LEVELS CHARTMouse over the spinal column to see how the level of injury affects loss of function and control |
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Cervical InjuriesCervical injuries above the C-4 level may require a ventilator for the person to breathe. C-5 injuries often result in shoulder and biceps control, but no control at the wrist or hand. C-6 injuries generally yield wrist control, but no hand function. Individuals with C-7, C-8 and T-1 injuries can straighten their arms, but still may have problems with their hands. |
ANIMATED SCI LEVELS CHART
Mouse over the spinal column to see how the level of injury affects loss of function and control
Cervical Injuries
Cervical injuries above the C-4 level may require a ventilator for the person to breathe. C-5 injuries often result in shoulder and biceps control, but no control at the wrist or hand. C-6 injuries generally yield wrist control, but no hand function. Individuals with C-7, C-8 and T-1 injuries can straighten their arms, but still may have problems with their hands.
Thoracic Injuries
The first thoracic vertebra, T-1, is located approximately at the same level as the top rib. Injuries to nerves in this region usually affect the chest and the legs, and result in paraplegia. For injuries from T-1 to T-8, there is usually control of the hands but lack of abdominal muscle control. (Individuals with injuries from T-1 to T-6 are also at risk for Autonomic Dysreflexia)
Lumbar Injuries
Injuries to nerves in the area of L-1 to L-5 generally result in some loss of functioning of the hips and legs. Bowel, bladder and sexual function may also be impacted.
Sacral Injuries
The sacrum runs from the pelvis to the end of the spinal column. Injuries to nerves in this area generally result in some loss of functioning of the hips, legs, ankles, and feet. Loss of control of bowel and bladder and sexual functions is also common.
Facing Disability Blog
Meet the First Little Miss Wheelchair America
In November 2025, Dahlia Swanson was crowned the inaugural Little Miss Wheelchair America for 2026–27, becoming the first child to hold the new national title. The program is an extension of Ms. Wheelchair America, which emphasizes advocacy and achievement by women who use wheelchairs rather than a traditional beauty pageant.
Dahlia previously served as Little Miss Wheelchair Michigan 2025. After she attended the Ms. Wheelchair America national competition that August, the organization invited her to become its first national Little Miss titleholder.
For Dahlia, the title comes with an advocacy role. Her platform, “Play! Learn! Grow!” promotes opportunities for children with and without disabilities to participate together, even when they participate in different ways. When she was crowned, Dahlia said she was looking forward to attending events, meeting people and “advocating.” ...
Read More
Facing Disability BlogMeet the First Little Miss Wheelchair America
In November 2025, Dahlia Swanson was crowned the inaugural Little Miss Wheelchair America for 2026–27, becoming the first child to hold the new national title. The program is an extension of Ms. Wheelchair America, which emphasizes advocacy and achievement by women who use wheelchairs rather than a traditional beauty pageant. Dahlia previously served as Little Miss Wheelchair Michigan 2025. After she attended the Ms. Wheelchair America national competition that August, the organization invited her to become its first national Little Miss titleholder. For Dahlia, the title comes with an advocacy role. Her platform, “Play! Learn! Grow!” promotes opportunities for children with and without disabilities to participate together, even when they participate in different ways. When she was crowned, Dahlia said she was looking forward to attending events, meeting people and “advocating.” Read More |
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FacingDisability presents current information on spinal cord injury which has been developed by working with medical experts at major hospitals universities and rehabilitation institutions. They include: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago; Harvard Spaulding Medical Center, Boston; Shepherd Center, Atlanta; Craig Hospital, Denver; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. FacingDisability staff members serve on committees of the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The National Institute on Disability and Independent Living (NIDLRR). Spinal cord injury medical experts who are interviewed on FacingDisability.com come from: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago; Craig Hospital, Denver; Shepherd Center, Atlanta; Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia; Shriners Hospital for Children, Chicago; TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston; VA Palo Alto Health Care System, CA; Memphis VA Medical Center, TN; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, D.C.; |
VA Boston Healthcare System; Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, Missouri; Case Western University, Cleveland; Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee; Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia; Arkansas Spinal Cord Injury Commission, Little Rock; VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle; School of Public Health, Indiana University. Personal interviews of people living with spinal cord injury were recorded by FacingDisability in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New Orleans, and California. FacingDisability is regularly invited to make presentations at the national meetings of spinal cord injury associations: Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), Rehabilitation Psychology Conference, The International Spinal Cord Injury Society (ISCoS), American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) and at the Paralyzed Veterans of America Summit (PVA). FacingDisability.com is funded by the Hill Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit. |