SCI Forum Report

Getting your life back after spinal cord injury: Finding meaning through volunteering, school and work

This SCI Forum, presented on February 12, 2008 at the University of Washington Medical Center, consisted of five separate parts: four presentations and a panel discussion. Each part is offered as a separate video. Click on a link below to watch a video.

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(Mac users: to watch the video you may have to download a program, which you can find at the following site: Microsoft Windows Media Components for QuickTime.)

Part 1: Introduction and overview, by Steve Stiens, MD, associate professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. How do people define and achieve success, satisfaction and happiness?
- Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 2: Getting back into your community, by Michael Donofree, vocational rehabilitation counselor, Veterans Administration. Some ways to contribute to your community while enhancing your quality of life through school, work and volunteering.
- Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 3: Vocational rehabilitation, by Tracy Zajac, vocational rehabilitation counselor, Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Zajac, who has a spinal cord injury, talks about her own post-injury training and employment and outlines the process of obtaining services from the DVR.
- Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 4: Return to work: Facts and figures, by Matt Davis, MD, SCI Fellow, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. This presentation discusses research into the factors that affect the likelihood that a person will become employed after spinal cord injury.
- Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 5: Panel discussion, six individuals with SCI talk about their adjustment to living with SCI and how they moved forward and found their passions in life.
- Watch the video (37 minutes)

Resources: Self-searching and finding your passion
Compiled by Steve Stiens, MD.

"Passion”— Article about discovering, developing and living your passion in life.
http://www.itstime.com/feb2000.htm

Share the information with a small “committee.” Assemble a small group of people that may each have a different perspective about you. They can be friends, relatives and various professionals that have some in-depth knowledge about you. Ask them about their willingness to discuss the information you have found out about yourself, give their opinions on next steps and react to ideas you have about what you’re thinking about trying next.

Books

Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do, by Robert H. Schuller (Thomas Nelson, 2007).

The Passion Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering, Developing and Living Your Passion. by Richard Y. Chang (Jossey Bass, 2000).

A New Earth : Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle (Dutton/Penguin Group, 2005).

SCI Forum Report

Getting your life back after spinal cord injury: Finding meaning through volunteering, school and work

Part 1: Introduction and overview, by Steve Stiens, MD, associate professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. How do people define and achieve success, satisfaction and happiness?

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 2: Getting back into your community, by Michael Donofree, vocational rehabilitation counselor, Veterans Administration. Some ways to contribute to your community while enhancing your quality of life through school, work and volunteering.

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 4: Return to work: Facts and figures, by Matt Davis, MD, SCI Fellow, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. This presentation discusses research into the factors that affect the likelihood that a person will become employed after spinal cord injury.

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 5: Panel discussion, six individuals with SCI talk about their adjustment to living with SCI and how they moved forward and found their passions in life.

Watch the video (37 minutes)

Resources: Self-searching and finding your passion
Compiled by Steve Stiens, MD.

SCI Forum Report

Getting your life back after spinal cord injury: Finding meaning through volunteering, school and work

Part 1: Introduction and overview, by Steve Stiens, MD, associate professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. How do people define and achieve success, satisfaction and happiness?

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 2: Getting back into your community, by Michael Donofree, vocational rehabilitation counselor, Veterans Administration. Some ways to contribute to your community while enhancing your quality of life through school, work and volunteering.

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 4: Return to work: Facts and figures, by Matt Davis, MD, SCI Fellow, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. This presentation discusses research into the factors that affect the likelihood that a person will become employed after spinal cord injury.

Watch the video (10 minutes)

Part 5: Panel discussion, six individuals with SCI talk about their adjustment to living with SCI and how they moved forward and found their passions in life.

Watch the video (37 minutes)

Resources: Self-searching and finding your passion Compiled by Steve Stiens, MD.

Resources: Self-searching and finding your passion
Compiled by Steve Stiens, MD.