Motorability Field Trip

Jennifer Dees
Aleksandr Vasyanovich
Lori Miller

The following is taken from the United Spinal Association's website:

"United Spinal Association is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). Membership is free and open to all individuals with spinal cord injuries and diseases.

For more than sixty (60) years, we have committed our energy and our talents to improving the lives of individuals with a spinal cord injury or disease. Our initiatives, in promoting inclusion, improving access, fostering independence, enhancing mobility, and demanding equality, along with our commitment to member service, has helped to improve the quality of life and to create opportunities for our members and all people with spinal cord injuries or disorders.


We accomplish our mission by:

* Ensuring quality health care
* Promoting research
* Advocating for civil rights and independence
* Educating the public and enlisting its help
* Expanding opportunities for all paralyzed Americans
* Providing services to veteran members though our VetsFirst program
* Providing participatory events for children and young adults through our KidsFirst progam
* Providing guidance and motivation through our Peer Mentoring program"

If you'd like more information on the work that United Spinal Association does, please visit the website at: http://www.unitedspinal.org

Motorability Island in SecondLife is a vast, 7 sim complex designed specifically to promote United Spinal Association in SL, via the Education Center and other builds dotted around the Island. We, along with the United Spinal Motorsports Programme are complete petrolheads, so you'll also find loads of really cool stuff to do with a car around here too. We've got 2 full oval circuits, a full inter-sim road system, car themed nightclub with live DJs, go-kart racing, car dealerships, scooter shack and the rather cool AskPatty.com center too, which offers automotive advice for women, from some of the top women in the US automotive industry. There are also several other exciting builds planned, such as an education center for wannabe SecondLife vehicle designers, a drag strip and a drift track.
The member advantages to belonging to this group in second life are virtual car experiences, meaningful education/recreation, and community for all second life residents. There is a veterans first area. For Memorial Day they had many events to attend including racing and parties for veterans. A percentage of all the proceeds goes to http://www.unitedspinal.org.
This experience helped us gain insight into member needs as an RN because it provides the opportunity for users to virtually move and participate in activites that they are unable to do in real life due to their injuries. As RNs this website can be used as a referral to inform patients of activites that they can participate in.