Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

07/21/2026

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act established important protections in employment, transportation, public spaces, communication, and other parts of everyday life.

Since then, accessibility has improved in many ways, although individuals with spinal cord injuries may still encounter barriers that limit choice, independence, and participation in their communities.

Our latest article reflects on the impact of the ADA and highlights how community programs, rehabilitation, and research continue to improve access and opportunity for individuals with SCI.

👉 Read more: https://chnfoundation.org/article/from-the-capitol-steps-36-years-later/

❓What does meaningful access and choice look like in your community?

On March 12, 1990, more than 500 people gathered at the base of the United States Capitol and began to march. When they reached the west steps of the building, scores of them left their wheelchairs and mobility aids behind and started to crawl.

06/26/2026

A resume tells you where someone has worked. It rarely tells you what it took to get there.

After a spinal cord injury, returning to work can involve rebuilding confidence, navigating accommodations, finding reliable transportation, exploring new career paths, and finding opportunities to gain experience along the way.

Our latest article looks at the people, programs, and support that help make employment possible after SCI. It highlights many of the things a resume could never capture.

👉 Read more: https://chnfoundation.org/article/beyond-the-resume/

❓What kinds of support have you seen make the biggest difference in helping someone return to work?

After a spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a period that doesn't get talked about much. The most critical window of medical care has passed, the intensity of early rehabilitation has begun to settle, and the future is still taking shape.

05/20/2026

05/18/2026

Emotional wellbeing after spinal cord injury is often discussed as something personal. But many of the challenges people face are shaped by systems, relationships, environments, and access to support.

The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation recently awarded more than $4 million in new Psychosocial Research grants supporting studies focused on areas like caregiving, community participation, mental health, employment, aging, and social connection after SCI.

The goal is simple: better understanding the real-life experiences that shape quality of life after injury and supporting research that can lead to meaningful, practical solutions.

👉 Read more: https://chnfoundation.org/article/over-4-million-awarded-in-new-psychosocial-research-grants/

❓What psychosocial challenges in the SCI community do you think deserve more attention?

Spinal cord injury (SCI) reshapes life in ways that go far beyond physical changes. It changes how people move through their days, how they connect with others, and how they see themselves over time. These experiences are central to life after injury, yet research has not always taken them into acco...

04/16/2026

Time outside goes beyond fresh air. It’s shaped by who you’re able to share it with.

A garden, a trail, a place to sit and stay for a while. These spaces can shape how people connect after spinal cord injury in ways that aren’t always obvious.

This piece looks at how outdoor spaces are being designed and used to support real connection, not just access.

👉 Read more: https://chnfoundation.org/article/growing-community-in-outdoor-spaces/

❓Have you seen small design changes make a big difference in how people gather?

As spring arrives, people begin spending more time outdoors, whether that means tending to a garden, spending time on a trail, or simply gathering with others. For individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI), those experiences are no different in principle, though they may look different in pra...

03/18/2026

This month's article explores how language, cultural identity, and family dynamics shape the way people adapt to life after SCI. From tribal communities reconnecting to land and leadership through adaptive sports, to multilingual resources that let families learn and decide together, the lesson is clear: moving forward shouldn't mean leaving who you are behind.

Read our March article to learn more about the work we support and why culture is always part of the conversation. 🔗 https://chnfoundation.org/article/when-disability-enters-an-existing-culture/

02/19/2026

Have you read our latest article, The Power of Shared Experience? Click the link to read more!

https://chnfoundation.org/article/the-power-of-shared-experience/

01/31/2026

The 2027 Psychosocial Research cycle is now open! Letters of Intent are due by March 5th.

Get started here:

The Psychosocial Research (PSR) portfolio supports the study of people’s psychological and social wellbeing and research to develop and test interventions that improve an individual’s mental, behavioral, and social welfare following spinal cord injury (SCI).

01/15/2026

At the heart of life after a spinal cord injury is trust. Trust is built in people, in systems, and in the support that shows up when it’s needed most.

In our latest article, we explore why trust matters so much after SCI and how it’s built through consistent care, relationships, and community-based support.

➡️ Read the full article here:

After a spinal cord injury (SCI), life takes on a new rhythm. Things that once felt automatic—getting dressed, leaving the house, going to an appointment, planning for work—can now depend on many people and systems working together.

01/02/2026

The 2026 CO&I Community Support Grant cycle is now open! Letters of Intent are due by January 26th.

Get started here:

The Creating Opportunity & Independence (CO&I) portfolio supports non-profit organizations that provide programs and services that enhance the quality of life for individuals and families living with SCI.