The Life Challenge Program enables individuals with SCI opportunities to participate in activities that may seem impossible because of their disability. An SCI outreach coordinator organizes and supervises all activities, which vary from “simple and safe” local outings (e.g., attending a movie and going to a Broadway show) to out-of-town, “high-activity” day-long trips (e.g., horseback riding or kayaking), and from learning new leisure skills (such as swimming and scuba diving) to “on-the-edge” adventure trips (e.g., whitewater rafting, glider plane rides, skydiving, and snow skiing). By participating in a Life Challenge Program activity, individuals with SCI and their family members are invited to face community-based obstacles together. The goals of the Life Challenge Program are to:
- Educate newly injured persons about recreational activities in which they can engage within the community
- Introduce problem-solving strategies for overcoming obstacles in real life situations that are outside familiar surroundings
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Create bonds among persons with SCI and establish peer networks in the community
Over the last 10 years, more than 250 individuals with SCI have participated in 85 different Life Challenge Program events.
Check our Calendar for upcoming Life Challenge events. If you are interested in attending one of the trips or would like more information, please contact Garrison Redd at Garrison.redd@mountsinai.org.