NSCIA Sets Date for Next SCI Summit and SCI Hall of Fame

Bethesda, MD -- The National Spinal Cord Injury Association will host the second Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Summit™ and SCI Hall of Fame™ October 15th – 18th, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, MD.

SCI Summit 2005: Facing Issues, Creating Solutions,™ brought together leaders and stakeholders in the SCI field to define common priorities and develop agendas for addressing them. Leaders in rehabilitation, research, health care, business, and disability advocacy worked hand in hand with those with spinal cord injuries and their families.

Participants assessed the state of SCI in five broad topic areas, including: rehabilitation, research, health promotion, community living, and assistive technology. Participants also formulated recommendations and developed action plans in each of those five areas. Results were presented to top federal officials in disability policy areas and have been incorporated into the ongoing efforts of NSCIA and its partners.

Last year's first-ever SCI Hall of Fame gala event honored 10 individuals who have made significant contributions to quality of life and advancements toward a better future for all individuals with spinal cord injury. 

These 10 inaugural inductees, and their categories, were: Christopher Reeve, Benefactor; Teddy Pendergrass (PA), Entertainment; Marilyn Hamilton (CA), Entrepreneur; Senator Tom Harkin (IA), Legislative; Barry Corbet, Disability Awareness/Activism; John Hockenberry (NY), Media; Randy Snow (TX), Sports; Rory Cooper (PA), Assistive Technology; Duane French (WA), Corporate/Government Executive, and Wise Young (NJ), Research.

NSCIA expects to announce this year's process and begin accepting nominations in the spring of 2006.

For details and updated information, visit www.spinalcord.org regularly, or join NSCIA online at www.spinalcord.org (individual membership is free) and receive timely email notifications as details are announced. Voting on SCI Hall of Fame nominees will again be limited to members of NSCIA.