Roadmap to Recovery

Easing the journey

Welcome to your Roadmap to Recovery! We invite you to review the online version of this new guide for people who are newly injured and their families. We are grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their generous funding of this publication and to author Julie Sawchuk for her extraordinary skills and commitment to the well-being of her peers.

We also appreciate our community members with SCI, their supportive families and our health care partners for sharing what they know to ease the journey and strengthen the outcome of those who find their way to these pages. Click on titles below to read our online version in chapter PDFs.

image with text reading: roadmap to recovery
“Roadmap to Recovery is a well-researched, much-needed resource. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all new SCI patients could find this resource, so they wouldn’t feel so isolated in their experience of their injury and the system navigation required for a meaningful, best-possible recovery. I hope this resource gets into all of the right hands.”

M. Jean Sommerdyk, M.S.W., RSW

Social Work
Adult Ambulatory Services
Parkwood Institute

Introduction
Introduction
  • Preface By Spinal Cord Injury Ontario
  • Preface By Author Julie Sawchuk
  • About The Author

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Chapter One
Julie's Journey

The Full Story

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Chapter Two
Family Members

The Vital Role of Family - One Family Member to Another

A Family Member’s Story:

  • A Husband’s Perspective
  • A Mother’s Perspective
  • A Child’s Perspective

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Chapter Three
Acute Care

Acute Care Days, Weeks and Months in Survival Mode
Professional Points:

  • Intensive Care Nursing
  • Talking About Surgery
  • Acute Care Social Worker

Read now

Chapter Four
Rehab

Welcome To Rehab! … Really??
Professional Points:

  • Nurses Page
  • Nurses
  • Physiatrist
  • Dietitian

Mental Health
Professional Points:

  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Therapy
Professional Points:

  • Physiotherapy (PT)
  • Occupational Therapy (OT)

Peer Support

Skills To Know Before You Go Home

Read now

Chapter Five
Homeward Bound

Going Home–or Making A New One

The Importance of SCIO Regional Services

Medical Home Team
Professional Points: Personal Support Worker

Driving

Equipment & Supplies

  • Mobility Devices
  • Supplies
  • Medications

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Chapter Six
Legal & Insurance

Legal and Insurance Matters

Professional Points: Case Manager

Legal
Professional Points: Lawyer

Insurance
Professional Points: Insurance

WSIB: Workplace Safety & Insurance Board

Read now

Chapter Seven
New Normal

Embracing A New Normal in Health, Family, Sports, Work and Travel

Sport & Recreation

Return To Work

Travel

Finances

Government and Other Types of Financial Assistance
Read now

Chapter Eight
Glossary & Resources

Glossary of Acronyms

Glossary of Terminology

Resources

Contributors

Read now

Peer Perspectives
Peer Perspectives
  • Diane’s Decision
  • Michelle’s Story Folding Socks Just For Fun
  • Michelle And YouTube
    A Conversation with Mike and Karen
  • Michelle on Going Home
  • Julie: PSW Support Means Independence
  • Gabriella Carafa On Sex and SCI
  • Camilo Acero: Becoming a Father After SCI
  • Lubna Aslam: Giving Birth After SCI
  • Dave Willsie—Life From Sport
  • An Interview with Diana McCauley, Manager, SCIO Employment Services
  • Alireza Tehrani Proves a Second Career is Possible
  • Peter Athanasopoulos, Director of Public Policy, SCIO

Read now

Julie's Journey
Julie's Journey
  • A Dorm Room
  • A Post-Recovery Perspective
  • Bladder & Bowels
  • Going Home
  • HBP is AD in SCI from UTI
  • Robot Goals
  • T4 Sisters
  • Four Years and Still Working On It
  • Just Keep Swimming
  • Sturdy Underwear
  • Super Dave
  • New “Sporty” Friends
  • Catheters
  • Sleeping in The Dining Room
  • Pain Management
  • On The Road Again
  • Fancypants
  • Me, The Case Manager
  • Future Costs
  • Time Is Still A Factor
  • Try Everything

Read now

Introduction
Introduction
  • Preface By Spinal Cord Injury Ontario
  • Preface By Author Julie Sawchuk
  • About The Author

Read now

Chapter One
Julie's Journey

The Full Story

Read now

Chapter Two
Family Members

The Vital Role of Family - One Family Member to Another

A Family Member’s Story:

  • A Husband’s Perspective
  • A Mother’s Perspective
  • A Child’s Perspective

Read now

Chapter Three
Acute Care
Acute Care Days, Weeks and Months in Survival Mode Professional Points:
  • Intensive Care Nursing
  • Talking About Surgery
  • Acute Care Social Worker
Read now
Chapter Four
Rehab

Welcome To Rehab! … Really??
Professional Points:

  • Nurses Page
  • Nurses
  • Physiatrist
  • Dietitian

Mental Health
Professional Points:

  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Therapy
Professional Points:

  • Physiotherapy (PT)
  • Occupational Therapy (OT)

Peer Support

Skills To Know Before You Go Home

Read now

Chapter Five
Homeward Bound
Going Home–or Making A New One The Importance of SCIO Regional Services Medical Home Team Professional Points: Personal Support Worker Driving Equipment & Supplies
  • Mobility Devices
  • Supplies
  • Medications
Read now
Chapter Six
Legal & Insurance

Legal and Insurance Matters

Professional Points: Case Manager

Legal
Professional Points: Lawyer

Insurance
Professional Points: Insurance

WSIB: Workplace Safety & Insurance Board

Read now

Chapter Seven
New Normal

Embracing A New Normal in Health, Family, Sports, Work and Travel

Sport & Recreation

Return To Work

Travel

Finances

Government and Other Types of Financial Assistance
Read now

Chapter Eight
Glossary & Resources

Glossary of Acronyms

Glossary of Terminology

Resources

Contributors

Read now

Peer Perspectives
Peer Perspectives
  • Diane’s Decision
  • Michelle’s Story Folding Socks Just For Fun
  • Michelle And YouTube A Conversation with Mike and Karen
  • Michelle on Going Home
  • Julie: PSW Support Means Independence
  • Gabriella Carafa On Sex and SCI
  • Camilo Acero: Becoming a Father After SCI
  • Lubna Aslam: Giving Birth After SCI
  • Dave Willsie—Life From Sport
  • An Interview with Diana McCauley, Manager, SCIO Employment Services
  • Alireza Tehrani Proves a Second Career is Possible
  • Peter Athanasopoulos, Director of Public Policy, SCIO
Read now
Julie's Journey
Julie's Journey
  • A Dorm Room
  • A Post-Recovery Perspective
  • Bladder & Bowels
  • Going Home
  • HBP is AD in SCI from UTI
  • Robot Goals
  • T4 Sisters
  • Four Years and Still Working On It
  • Just Keep Swimming
  • Sturdy Underwear
  • Super Dave
  • New “Sporty” Friends
  • Catheters
  • Sleeping in The Dining Room
  • Pain Management
  • On The Road Again
  • Fancypants
  • Me, The Case Manager
  • Future Costs
  • Time Is Still A Factor
  • Try Everything

Read now

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