Syracuse Spinal Association

10/12/2026

https://obits.syracuse.com/us/obituaries/syracuse/name/joshua-virgil-obituary?id=62713906&fbclid=IwZnRzaAU494JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUQER99XUH9lJcKci1N3XO2DLghtEbXNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7cmLlu6FusKfCAL63NVS0cTdq2uzTbeYmVrSsRzbdiBM1f_SBawPIkulGMNQ_aem_t7ieKA5sED5eFg1YTPM3Eg

View Joshua Patrick "Coach" Virgil's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

10/06/2026

We are heartbroken to share that our beloved friend and Board member, Josh Virgil, has passed away.

Josh was a founding member of the Syracuse Spinal Association and brought extraordinary wisdom, ideas, unwavering commitment, and a deep passion for the mission we share with the SCI community.

He was a source of constant encouragement and helped SSA in lasting ways. We are deeply grateful for the time he shared with us. Josh will be missed beyond measure.

Our thoughts, love, and condolences go out to Josh’s family and loved ones during this very difficult time.
Rest in peace, dear friend 🕊

09/16/2026

Ian’s Ride is coming through New York

In 2016, Ian Mackay set out to ride his power wheelchair across Washington State. That “audacious plan” became Ian’s Ride — a nonprofit, years of peer support, a Guinness World Record, and crossings of more than half a dozen states. This year is the sixth ride: more than 370 miles of the Erie Canalway Trail, from New York City toward Buffalo, with friends on bikes riding alongside.

This ride is bigger than the mileage. Ian uses it to put accessible trails in the spotlight, remind people that getting outside should be an option for everyone, and connect with anyone who wants to roll, ride, or just say hello at the end of the day.

Join for a stretch of trail or meet them at a local brewery at the end of the day.

Central New York days:
• Wed, Sept. 23 — Rome → Syracuse (45 miles)
• Thu, Sept. 24 — Syracuse → Weedsport (26 miles)

Follow daily start times, trail notes, and photos on the blog and Facebook, then reach out if you want to ride or grab a drink.

For more Information :👇👇

Website: https://www.iansride.com/ride-the-erie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IansRide

In 2016 I had the audacious plan to ride my wheelchair across the state of Washington that we called “Ian’s Ride”. Little did I know that that ride would lead to a nonprofit, countless hours of peer support, a Guinness World Record, and crossing over a half-dozen states in my wheelchair. Now h...

08/10/2026

Join us tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 11 at 6:00 PM
We’re welcoming Prof. Victor Duenas, PhD, and researcher Evan Tusky as they share their work on a robotic stretching device for people with spinal cord injury and stroke.
Virtual via Zoom - Zoom link will be in the comments.
Everyone is welcome!



Spinal Association

07/14/2026

Please join us in welcoming Bianca and to learn more about her holistic approach to healing and improving quality of life, Tuesday, July 14th at 6:00 pm via the link below:

https://ariseinc.zoom.us/j/82728078755?pwd=5qt0lk6prMobgqb0qP4GW9Qb9GKlVh.1

Meeting ID: 827 2807 8755
Passcode: 063454

07/06/2026

🌟 Celebrating 36 Years of the ADA!
This July 26, we honor the 36th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights law that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in employment, education, transportation, and public spaces. The ADA ensures equal rights, access, and opportunities; empowering people to live, work, and participate fully in our communities.

Join us as we celebrate inclusion, accessibility, and the ongoing fight for disability rights!

🌟 Annual ADA March – 2026
📅 Tuesday, July 7, 2026
⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Meet at 11:15 AM outside Syracuse City Hall, 233 E. Washington Street

The celebration will begin at 11:30 AM with the raising of the ADA flag over City Hall. Syracuse Mayor Owens and Onondaga County Commissioner Spoto Decker will deliver official proclamations recognizing the importance of the ADA and the continued work to advance disability rights.

Let’s march together, uplift our community, and honor the legacy of the ADA!
Learn more and get involved: adaanniversary.org

06/09/2026

We will be joined on Tuesday, June 9th, by Beth Ann Raineri, a licensed massage therapist and co-owner of The Zen Place, a holistic wellness center focused on supporting healing of both the mind and body.

02/09/2026

Kathy O'Connell, LMHC, CRC, is a leading advocate helping people with disabilities
create healthy romantic relationships. She addresses "Sexual Ableism" through
RelatABILITY, LLC, providing training, curriculums, and consulting to disability services
professionals. She also offers individual coaching in dating and relationships and
authored Firewalk: Embracing Different Abilities.

This empowering presentation by Kathy O'Connell, a licensed mental health counselor and
certified rehabilitation counselor, celebrates the truth that people with disabilities are absolutely
worthy of love, meaningful relationships, and fulfilling romantic partnerships. Drawing from her
own inspiring journey—including 16 years of happy marriage—O'Connell offers a hopeful
roadmap for recognizing and overcoming sexual ableism, which she reframes not as a personal
flaw but as a social construct that can be unlearned and dismantled.
The presentation centers on four uplifting pillars of dating success: recognizing your intrinsic
self-worth, building authentic confidence by embracing your whole self, creating an actionable
plan for meeting potential partners, and courageously following through even when it feels
scary. Participants learn to challenge internalized negative beliefs through practical exercises
like journaling, auditing self-talk, and identifying their unique strengths—transforming messages
of unworthiness into affirmations of value and desirability. The heart of this message is: sexual
ableism is a lie, worthiness is the truth, and with the right mindset, skills, and supportive
community, everyone can confidently pursue and find the loving relationships they deserve.