Spinal cord injuries leave people with various degrees of disability and can be emotionally devastating to the patient and his or her family. Without support, an SCI patient may feel isolated and overwhelmed. Support groups for SCI allow you to make new friendships with people who have injuries similar to yours and who understand what you are going through.

Different SCI support groups focus on different aspects of SCI. Many focus on giving their members helpful health and employment information pertaining to SCI. Other groups focus on providing recreation activities that SCI patients can participate in, while still others concentrate their energy on SCI prevention, public awareness, and research. When you have a choice of groups, check out several to find out which one best meets your needs.

The following list is as complete as we could make it. Unfortunately, there are not many SCI support groups in Alaska. If you cannot find a local group, you may like to start one yourself. The National Spinal Cord Injury Association can give you helpful advice on how to start your own group: http://www.spinalcord.org/index.php

Access Alaska is the state of Alaska’s program to provide needed support to Alaskans with any type of disability, including SCI: http://www.accessalaska.org/

Challenge Alaska

This group is dedicated to providing sports activities for people with all types of disabilities, including SCI. The group holds many different events throughout the year.

Challenge Alaska Anchorage Office

3350 Commercial Drive, Suite 208
Anchorage, AK 99501
Voice: 907-344-7349 Fax: 907-344-7349

Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski & Snow Board School

Keil Center for Adaptive Sports & Therapeutic Recreation
426 Crystal Mountain Road
Girdwood, Alaska
Voice: 907-783-2925 Fax: 907-783-3207

Challenge Alaska Mat-Su Office

In the Links Mat-Su Parent Resource Offices
6177 E. Mountain Heather Rd. #3
Palmer, Alaska
Voice: 907-244-2109

Website:
http://www.challengealaska.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1