Empower people with physically disabling conditions to maintain and improve their health and wellness. Provide, advocate for, and improve access to health-promoting physical activity and recreation. Support, promote, and provide education and research programs that improve, and increase understanding of, the health and wellness of people with disabling conditions.
People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the U.S., making up 27.2% of the population of the United States (according to Census Bureau 2014 report on prevalence using Social Security data). People with “severe disability” make up 17.6%, and people with upper and lower extremity “functional limitations” make up 15.4%, of the population.
Each of us is only one car accident, one slip and fall, one faulty blood vessel, one diagnosis away from a chronic disabling condition.
People with disabling conditions, such as spinal cord injuries and strokes, are more susceptible to chronic secondary health conditions than the general population–including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, the risks of which can be improved with physical activity and exercise.
Disability Inclusion Fund Rapid Response Grants
Gathering Strength, Inc., is pleased and honored to announce that it has received a Rapid Response Grant from the Disability Inclusion Fund, which is a donor collaborative housed at Borealis Philanthropy.
Gathering Strength is one of 15 organizations nationwide to receive a rapid response grant. Please see the June 23, 2020, press release.
Inclusive Digital Access Pilot Project
The funds will help Gathering Strength to create a pilot project to connect people with disabling conditions to high speed internet service so they can have access to virtual activities that promote health, increased inclusion in the community, and reduced isolation.
Click the button to download the application for internet access. If opened in Adobe Acrobat DC, it is a fillable form that can be emailed to gatheringstrengthinc@gmail.com.
Online Forum on Physical Activity After Stroke And Spinal Cord Injury
Live on Zoom
Saturday, October 17, 2020
Healthcare Provider-Oriented lectures:
10:45 Check-in
11:00 Sandra Billinger, PT, Ph.D., Exercise is Medicine for Stroke Recovery 12:10 Christopher West, Ph.D., Exercise and Physical Activity Improve Health after SCI Community member-oriented lectures: 1:15 Check-in
1:30 Exercise and Stroke Recovery: What’s Good for the Heart is Good for the Brain
2:40 Exercise and Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with Spinal Cord Injuries
This Event is made possible by a grant from the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute, and the support of Frazier Rehab Institute.
The project described is supported by Grant Number 90PRRC0001-01-00 from
the Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human
Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the Wellness
Edge staff and do not necessarily represent the official views of the
Administration for Community Living Or HHS
Adapted Chair Yoga
Need to relax while stuck at home? Here’s a video of an adapted, chair yoga class. It is very gentle, beginner, chair yoga that can be done by people with disabling conditions like spinal cord injury and stroke. Click the button below to see the video.
Gathering Strength Inc., helps people with disabling conditions, such as spinal cord injury and stroke, to engage in therapeutic physical activity. Gathering Strength collaborates with Frazier Rehab Institute’s Community Fitness and Wellness program in Louisville, Ky to provide a wide variety of accessible exercise opportunitites.
Click on a picture, or visit the “Get Inspired” page, to read more and see videos of people engaging in therapeutic exercise.
Resources below include some helpful advice, interesting research, and practical guidelines on how to maintain and improve fitness and wellness while living with a disabling condition, such as spinal cord injury or stroke. (We do not specifically endorse or affirm any third-party’s information; please use your own, best judgment in evaluating it.)
Our Mission
The mission of Gathering Strength, Inc. is to:
Empower people with physically disabling conditions to maintain and improve their health and wellness. Provide, advocate for, and improve access to health-promoting physical activity and recreation. Support, promote, and provide education and research programs that improve, and increase understanding of, the health and wellness of people with disabling conditions.
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Why it Matters
Disability Inclusion Fund Rapid Response Grants
Gathering Strength, Inc., is pleased and honored to announce that it has received a Rapid Response Grant from the Disability Inclusion Fund, which is a donor collaborative housed at Borealis Philanthropy.
Gathering Strength is one of 15 organizations nationwide to receive a rapid response grant. Please see the June 23, 2020, press release.
Inclusive Digital Access Pilot Project
The funds will help Gathering Strength to create a pilot project to connect people with disabling conditions to high speed internet service so they can have access to virtual activities that promote health, increased inclusion in the community, and reduced isolation.
Click the button to download the application for internet access. If opened in Adobe Acrobat DC, it is a fillable form that can be emailed to gatheringstrengthinc@gmail.com.
Online Forum on Physical Activity After Stroke And Spinal Cord Injury
Healthcare Provider-Oriented lectures:
10:45 Check-in
11:00 Sandra Billinger, PT, Ph.D., Exercise is Medicine for Stroke Recovery
12:10 Christopher West, Ph.D., Exercise and Physical Activity Improve Health after SCI
Community member-oriented lectures:
1:15 Check-in
1:30 Exercise and Stroke Recovery: What’s Good for the Heart is Good for the Brain
2:40 Exercise and Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with Spinal Cord Injuries
This Event is made possible by a grant from the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute, and the support of Frazier Rehab Institute.
The project described is supported by Grant Number 90PRRC0001-01-00 from the Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the Wellness Edge staff and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Administration for Community Living Or HHS
Adapted Chair Yoga
Need to relax while stuck at home? Here’s a video of an adapted, chair yoga class. It is very gentle, beginner, chair yoga that can be done by people with disabling conditions like spinal cord injury and stroke.
Click the button below to see the video.
Get Inspired
Gathering Strength Inc., helps people with disabling conditions, such as spinal cord injury and stroke, to engage in therapeutic physical activity. Gathering Strength collaborates with Frazier Rehab Institute’s Community Fitness and Wellness program in Louisville, Ky to provide a wide variety of accessible exercise opportunitites.
Click on a picture, or visit the “Get Inspired” page, to read more and see videos of people engaging in therapeutic exercise.
Herb, T-6 Spinal Cord Injury
Jenny, C6-7 spinal cord injury
Terrell, T10 spinal cord injury
Helpful Information
Resources below include some helpful advice, interesting research, and practical guidelines on how to maintain and improve fitness and wellness while living with a disabling condition, such as spinal cord injury or stroke. (We do not specifically endorse or affirm any third-party’s information; please use your own, best judgment in evaluating it.)
Therapeutic Exercise Facilities:
Nutrition, Stress Reduction, Etc.
Peer Support:
Caregiver support:
Exercise guidelines: