In late 1984 Dan Wilkins and his mother Patt Wilkins recognized the need for peer support for those who had sustained spinal cord injuries. At that time, there were very few people that knew what a newly injured person and his or her family was going through. Resources were few and difficult to obtain. They contacted a few rehab centers around Toledo and Northwestern Ohio letting them know they were starting a support group and when and where they would have their monthly meetings.

In 1985 several individuals joined with the Wilkins forming a small group of ten to twelve persons plus family members. The first meetings were held at a church in Oregon, Ohio. Travel was problematic for many attendees but it was important enough for them that they made the trip each month. Everyone attending meetings shared experiences with issues including accessibility, work, school, and amount of time that personal care took whether it was in the home or other facility. From these discussions and experiences the initial information needed by a newly injured person was determined and the group developed a plan for sharing that information. Local hospitals and rehab centers were contacted to let them know that members were willing to visit people with new injuries to lend an ear, lend moral support, and answer as many questions as they asked.

Humble Beginnings

From these humble beginnings, the group has grown to be a Chapter (local services) of National Spinal Cord Injury Association which was formed in 1948 and is the oldest and largest civilian organization in the nation. Today, NWONSCIA members are called on to provide support and help to individuals and families when someone is newly diagnosed with spinal cord injury or disease. The group provides educational materials and lectures in the community to increase awareness of special needs individuals and prevention of spinal cord injuries.

NWOSCIA - Northwest Ohio Spinal Cord Injury Association