Reeve study reveals raft of problems

A study released last month by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation shows that 1 in 50 Americans is living with paralysis. That's almost 6 million people with about 1.3 million of those being spinal-cord injured. The numbers are dramatically greater than previously thought. I am one of those 1.3 million. I became a paraplegic almost six years ago at the age of 37. It happened in an accident where someone else jumped from a rock ledge above me and landed on me as I was swimming in a lake. In an instant, my life as an active mom of two young children was shattered. Since then I have overcome many obstacles, but live daily with numerous hassles, bizarre complications and constant pain. As we move forward in the debate about health care reform, the study's findings create a mandate to develop better treatments and promote opportunities for people with disabilities to live independently and return to work. Adaptive technologies and unprecedented connectivity now make it easier than ever to integrate people living with disabilities into the work force. We also need to rethink insurance. Of the 47 million Americans who are currently underinsured or not insured, nearly 20 percent are people with disabilities. And for those who are covered, misguided policies often lead to spiraling costs and insufficient care. Insurance companies need to support preventive therapies and technologies that can meaningfully improve the health of people living with disabilities. The Reeve Foundation study reveals a community that is 6 million strong. Today we must recognize that community and focus our efforts on ensuring that people who want to heal, to work and succeed have the resources, support and access they deserve.

Julie Neustadt

Naperville