September offers an opportunity to learn about spinal cord injuries, recognize the daily challenges encountered by injured people and acknowledge their achievements

PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 27, 2018 – The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Sen. Christine Tartaglione this week recognizing September as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month in the Commonwealth.

“More than 300,000 Americans are living with spinal cord injuries, including 40,000 military veterans and thousands of Pennsylvanians,” Tartaglione said. “Every 48 minutes, another American becomes paralyzed from a spinal cord injury. That means there will be close to 12,000 new spinal cord injury patients in the United States this year.”

“This month offers us the opportunity to learn about spinal cord injuries, recognize the daily challenges encountered by injured people and acknowledge the achievements of those Americans living with spinal cord injuries.”

Senator Tartaglione has overcome many challenges since she injured her own spine in a 2003 boating accident and has been one of the leading advocates in the Pennsylvania legislature for people with spinal cord injuries, as well as those with other physical and intellectual challenges. She was a leading force in the creation of Pennsylvania’s Office for People with Disabilities, which serves as one-stop resource for information about supportive services available to people facing physical and intellectual challenges.

First designated by the U.S. Senate in 2013, National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month enables advocates to highlight recent medical breakthroughs and to share the urgent need for new treatments to reduce, reverse and prevent paralysis.

“Every person with a spinal cord injury deserves the chance for a better quality of life,” Tartaglione said.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or email at William.Kenny@pasenate.com.