Last month, 15 young people with spinal cord injuries attended the third annual True Grit camp, hosted by the Rutgers School of Health Professions and Children’s Specialized Hospital. Campers spent a week living away from family in accessible housing on the Rutgers campus, with support from therapists, nurses and peer mentors, some of whom have SCI themselves.
True Grit provides continued support after rehabilitation, helping young people with spinal cord injuries navigate the transition to adulthood. With few programs specifically designed to support this stage, it helps fill the gap through adaptive sports, community outings and workshops on adapted driving, higher education, employment and relationships.
A recent Rutgers study of the six participants in True Grit’s inaugural 2024 camp found that each camper made progress toward personal goals, with improvements still evident three to four months later. Participants also reported seeing new possibilities for their futures, including college, employment and independent living.
“After an injury, everything can feel like it’s been stripped away—your identity, your independence,” said Keara McNair, M.S., who leads the program. “One of our campers told us, ‘I felt like I was back on the team again.'”
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