Empower Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Inc

Empower Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Inc Enabling individuals with spinal cord injuries to lead more meaningful and independent lives, through a residential rehabilitation program Knowledge. Tools.

Knowledge will be provided through one-on-one therapy sessions at Empower SCI to provide participants with the knowledge in life-skills that they were unable to take advantage of during their short inpatient rehabilitation stay. Occupational Therapy will provide knowledge to assist patient in improving independence with activities of daily living, and in addition physical therapy will provide the

knowledge to improve independence in mobility. A custom focus on therapeutic recreation will give the participants the exposure and feeling of accomplishment that is associated with participating in recreational opportunities that they did not realize they could perform. Empower SCI will provide ample opportunities to participate in a variety of recreational activities to include kayaking, aquatic therapy, hand cycling and many more. Not only formal therapy, but informal knowledge-sharing will occur during their stay at Empower SCI through peer interaction. Peer interaction and peer mentoring will play a crucial role in improving mental health, as well as an opportunity for participants to share their own techniques and strategies on how they have learned to survive life with a spinal cord injury. Often, it is a matter of appropriate tools to allow for more independence with activities that able-bodied individuals often take for granted, such as the ability to empty one’s bladder. An individual with a spinal cord injury does not have the capacity to urinate at will, and often requires a catheter to be inserted to empty one’s bladder. This is often one of the activities that an individual with cervical spinal cord injury will require assistance to perform, due to limited fine motor control of their hands. The specialized occupational therapists at Empower SCI can assist in this area by providing needed adaptive devices and techniques that allow independence with this vital activity of daily living. Strength. The program at Empower SCI will not only focus on knowledge and tools, but will also improve existing strength through one-on-one strength and conditioning sessions, aquatic therapy and meditation/visualization techniques. The level of physical inactivity and reconditioning imposed by a spinal cord injury profoundly contrasts the pre-injury state in which most individuals are relatively young and physically active. Involvement in sports, recreation, and therapeutic exercise is commonly restricted after SCI by loss of voluntary motor control, as well as autonomic dysfunction, altered fuel homeostasis, inefficient temperature regulation, and early- onset muscle fatigue. Empower SCI will provide participants with the location, knowledgeable instruction, and one-on-one motivation to surpass these barriers both during the program, and also provide an exercise program to carry out after the 4 week program concludes. Support. Empower SCI will also provide participants with a mental and emotional support system to help with their adjustment to life with a spinal cord injury. This system will include the use of a rehabilitation counselor as well as peer mentors that have similar levels of injury as the participant. Peer mentors provide a unique combination of supportive elements not replicated by other relationships.

September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month!We start the month off the best way we know how- rehab counseling with ,...
09/02/2026

September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month!

We start the month off the best way we know how- rehab counseling with , open to all past program participants!

Next week , , and will be spreading the Empower magic at Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) -sharing the impact our teen program has had on so many! If you are are attending the conference- be sure to check out this power group on Monday the 7th!

During the weekend of the 12th, we will be holding our first volunteer appreciation event through an immersive retreat called Afterglow! Led by Kelly, Liz, Jess and Steph- we look forward to giving back to a group of steadfast volunteers who have donated years of their time to our program- some from day one!

For Empower Hour this month we have special guests from Restorative Therapies to share their knowledge about the benefits and opportunities of using FES bikes and more! Open to ALL members of the community- participants, individuals with SCI, caregivers, therapists, students and more!

On the last Sunday of the month we are very excited to announce peer mentor and paint enthusiast Justin will be leading a Paint Night at Lop Brewing in Woonsocket, RI- more info to come!

Our last event of the month will feature a talk with James from for an interactive career workshop where he will be sharing his lived experience navigating the business world as well as tips and tricks about resumes, cover letters, and more!

Lastly, GALA tickets are officially LIVE! Stay tuned for more information- but be sure to visit our website and grab your early bird tickets TODAY!

There are so many opportunities this month to connect and we are looking forward to seeing you all!

September Links:
Join RC 9/1:
https://empowersci-org.zoom.us/j/4527748526

Join Empower Hour 9/16 and Career Talk with Deloitte 9/30:
https://empowersci-org.zoom.us/j/8851399381

GALA TICKETS FOR 11/7:
https://support.empowersci.org/event/2026-empower-sci-gala-embers-and-elegance/e762668

09/01/2026

August was record breaking- THREE Pathways Events, including two in one week! Thank you to ALL who joined us and who made these possible!

We were so fortunate to have hannah hutzley from Kelly Brush Foundation join us not only for our adult program, but lead a panel on adaptive mountain biking and advocacy after a screening of KBF’s “Best Day Ever” Documentary to our participants and local community!

Last week we visited the infamous Charlie Croteau ‘s garage to check out all of his incredible DYI wheelchairs and creations! Thank you Charlie for hosting us and sharing your years of wisdom!

A few days later, we hopped aboard the Impossible Dream Catamaran to sail around Narragansett Bay and have talks about careers and more with Social Enterprise Greenhouse! A sincere thank you to the amazing Bjork family for sponsoring this incredible experience!

Thank you all for the wonderful memories, it was so great to meet so many new faces and look forward to seeing you all this fall at more Pathways Events!

Summer may be coming to an end, but we are rolling full steam ahead into fall events and fundraising season!For the firs...
08/30/2026

Summer may be coming to an end, but we are rolling full steam ahead into fall events and fundraising season!

For the first time, we are partnering with Races and Events , a Rhode Island organization that organizes local raises, to fundraise for Empower!

The race has something for everyone including three distance options: 5K, half marathon, and full marathon. Empower will be purchasing bibs for anyone who would like to join our team- to walk, run, or roll in support of Empower!

Please see website below for information on the event. If you are interested in participating- please email Tim at [email protected] !!

We have SO many exciting announcements for the fall, keep a look out for updates coming soon!

https://rhoderaces.com/events/narragansett/

08/28/2026

“Never underestimate what can happen when you invest in other human beings.”

Empower on the Water 2026 was nothing short of magical! Thank you to every volunteer and attendee who came out to support our mission on the most beautiful Boston night!

We are so grateful to so many- thank you Waymo for being a diamond level sponsor, The Tall Ship for hosting us, ALOE NATURAL🌱Açai & Coffee Shop ☕️ and Dirty Water Dough Co. for the delicious food and drinks, and to Ben Wight for these beautiful photos!!

Extra special thank you to 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓯𝓪𝓷 𝓖𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓲♠️ for so eloquently sharing his experience and the impact Empower has had on his journey.

And last but not least, thank you to our Director of Strategic Development Tim Brown for organizing this incredible fundraiser- we’re so grateful to have you leading the team!

Thank you all for being a part of our community and for always showing up- we are so grateful!

More to come this week on the incredible August we’ve had! ☀️

Today, we are grieving the loss of someone who will forever be a part of the EmpowerSCI family, Robbie Dudzisz.Robbie wa...
08/23/2026

Today, we are grieving the loss of someone who will forever be a part of the EmpowerSCI family, Robbie Dudzisz.

Robbie was one of our inaugural EmpowerSCI participants, taking a chance on this little program we were building and, in doing so, becoming part of its story.

At Empower, we had the privilege of getting him into a wheelchair rugby chair for one of the first times. We got to witness what can only be described as love at first sight. You could see it immediately. He found something in that sport that lit him up, and wheelchair rugby quickly became an integral part of his journey.

We will continue to honor his memory throughout EmpowerSCI, in the relationships we build, the opportunities we create, and every time we put someone in a rugby chair and watch them discover something that truly changes them.

We are sending so much Empower love to his family and friends, and to the wheelchair rugby community that he was such an important part of. His impact reached far beyond the walls of our program, and we know we are only one small part of the community that will miss him deeply.

Thank you for taking a chance on us. Thank you for believing in us. And thank you for leaving a little more joy in your wake, Robbie.

Let's end the summer with ONE MORE PATHWAYS EVENT!We are so excited to be teaming up with Impossible Dream Catamaran and...
08/22/2026

Let's end the summer with ONE MORE PATHWAYS EVENT!

We are so excited to be teaming up with Impossible Dream Catamaran and Social Enterprise Greenhouse for career conversations and a sunset cruise on Narraganset Bay on the world's only catamaran built from the ground up to be barrier free and universally accessible.

It's free to join but spots are limited! Sign up using the link below:

https://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=1451&campCode=83L&idSession=589273

Join Empower SCI for a behind-the-scenes look inside Charlie Croteau’s garage and see creativity, problem-solving, and i...
08/19/2026

Join Empower SCI for a behind-the-scenes look inside Charlie Croteau’s garage and see creativity, problem-solving, and ingenuity in action ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

Charlie has lived with a C7 spinal cord injury for more than 55years and has developed his own ways to build, weld, design, and create everything from adaptive beach chairs to beautiful wooden bowls. Come see how Charlie approaches his projects, check out some of what he has built, and learn from the adaptations and techniques he has developed along the way.

Stay for good food, conversation, and community with friends at a casual backyard barbecue.

Wednesday, August 26
4:00–7:00 PM
99 Kenberma Road, Worcester

Come curious, come hungry, and come ready to connect!

Use the link below to sign up:
https://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessionDetail.aspx?idCamp=1451&idSession=589135&campCode=83L

Our hearts are FULL after an incredible summer of programming!! This month's Empower Hour will be a chance to reconnect,...
08/17/2026

Our hearts are FULL after an incredible summer of programming!!

This month's Empower Hour will be a chance to reconnect, share stories and enjoy the company of all of our participants and volunteers in one space!

Please use the link below to join us this Wednesday at 7 PM EST! See you there!!

https://empowersci-org.zoom.us/j/8851399381

08/12/2026

Another Empower first, another incredible day!!!

Yesterday we had the pleasure of water skiing on Johnson Pond with Leaps of Faith Adaptive Skiers JohnsonsPondRI! THANK YOU for making this day incredible for our participants and volunteers! Special thank yous to Ross, Chris, and Rich for joining our adventure!

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PO Box 582
Warren, RI
02885

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